Alaska Native Corporations

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski released changes to her Sealaska lands-selection legislation Thursday (July 1st). The revisions are based on amendments that have been circulating among interest groups for weeks. But officials say more changes may be on the way.

The original bill allowed Sealaska to select a significant amount of timberland on northern Prince of Wales Island. That drew opposition from the area’s small communities, which hunt, fish and conduct small-scale logging on some of the acreage.

The revised measure shifts most harvest areas to other parts of the island, as well as remote islands to the west and north.Related Link: Link to the Murkowski press release with more details on the changes.

Sealaska shareholders re-elected four board incumbents in ballots counted at the Southeast regional Native corporation’s annual meeting. They also rejected a measure that would have weakened board powers. The meeting was held Saturday (June 26) in Craig.Related Link: Hear related reports and read more about the meeting.

Sealaska’s controversial land-selection bill could undergo major changes soon. Amendments circulating among interest groups suggest shifts in selected timberlands and future economic-development sites. But nothing’s finalized.Related Link: Read the bill as it stands now.

Sealaska’s earnings rebounded last year. The Southeast Alaska regional Native corporation’s newly-released annual report shows it made some money after a year of significant losses. But it’s not fully over the economic hump.Related Link: Read Sealaska’s annual report & hear a report about 2009’s dividends

Some Sealaska shareholders are pushing for a change in corporate decision-making. They say the current discretionary voting system favors board incumbents, and slows change. Managers of the Southeast regional Native corporation say the current system works well.Related Link: Read the proxy statement, and hear a report on 2009’s term limits vote.

Sealaska has started a new division to focus on economic initiatives in Southeast Alaska. It shares the name of the regional Native corporation’s lands-selection effort. But officials say it will have a wider focus.Related Link: Read the Haa Aani CEO’s job description.