Management

NPS Photo / V. Gomez

 

 

A wide variety of groups manage natural and cultural resources in the Aleutian Islands.

NPS Photo

Affiliated Areas & Management

The Aleutian Islands World War II National Historic Area is not only a unique area because of its deep history: it is also a unique type of National Park Service Unit. Unlike the National Parks that most people are familiar with, the Aleutian Islands World War II National Historic Area is an Affiliated Area of the National Park Service (NPS). Affiliated Areas comprise a variety of locations in the United States and Canada that preserve significant properties outside NPS lands.

The Ounalashka Corporation owns and manages the lands of the Aleutian Islands WWII National Historic Area while the NPS provides technical assistance. For the educational and inspirational benefit of present and future generations, the Ounalashka Corporation and the National Park Service provide for the interpretation of the unique and significant circumstances involving the history of the Aleut people, and the role of the Aleut people and the Aleutian Islands in the defense of the United States in World War II.

 

What is an Alaska Native Corporation?

Native Corporations, like the Ounalashka Corporation, were created by a piece of legislation called the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (often known as ANCSA) in 1971. ANCSA is a law that allotted 40 million acres of land for Alaska Natives. Rather than giving these lands to individuals or informal groups, ANCSA established twelve regional Alaska Native corporations to manage the lands. Alaska Natives and their descendants are often designated as shareholders of these corporations. Today, Alaska Native corporations do business in a wide variety of fields in addition to upholding their responsibilities of managing allotted lands.

 

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service manages many lands throughout the Aleutians, including Attu Island, where this peace memorial commemorating the Battle of Attu resides.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service / Lisa Hupp

Who else manages lands in the Aleutian Islands?

Although the Aleutian Islands World War II National Historic Area consists of locations on Unalaska Island, the remaining islands of the Aleutian chain contain rich historical and natural resources also worthy of protection.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) manages the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, which includes the Aleutian Islands. Most of the refuge is federally designated wilderness and provides critical habitat for enormous populations of seabirds in addition to other important animals like fish and mammals. The USFWS also manages the Aleutian Islands WWII National Monument, which preserves key battlefield areas such as Attu and Kiska along with a portion of Atka Island.

In addition to the Aleutian Islands WWII National Historic Area, the National Park Service also manages several National Historic Landmarks throughout the Aleutian Islands. The National Historic Landmarks Program focuses attention on historic and archeological resources of exceptional value, preserving our nation's most important cultural resources.

 

Enabling Legislation

In order to become a unit of the National Park Service, lands must be designated through enabling legislation. Enabling legislation explains why the lands are important, how they should be cared for, and who should care for them. To read the enabling legislation for the Aleutian Islands WWII National Historic Area, click the dropdown below or visit pages H12196 through H12250 in the Congressional Record.

 

Aleutian Islands WWII National Historic Area Enabling Legislation

H.R. 4236 SEC. 513. UNALASKA.

(a) Short Title.-This section may be cited as the "Aleutian World War II National Historic Areas Act of 1996"
(b) Purpose.-The purpose of this section is to designate and preserve the Aleutian World War II National Historic Area within lands owned by the Ounalaska Corporation on the island of Amaknak, Alaska and to provide for the interpretation, for the educational and inspirational benefit of present and future generations, of the unique and significant circumstances involving the history of the Aleut people, and the role of the Aleut people and the Aleutian Islands in the defense of the United States in World War II.
(c) Boundaries.-The Aleutian World War II National Historical Area shall be comprised of areas on Amaknak Island depicted on the map entitled "Aleutian World War II National Historic Area."
(d) Terms and Conditions.-Nothing in this section shall 1) Authorize the conveyance of lands between the Ounalaska Corporation and the United States Department of the Interior, nor remove land or structures appurtenant to the land from the exclusive control of the Ounalaska Corporation; or 2) Provide authority for the Department of the Interior to assume the duties associated with the daily operation of the historic area or any of its facilities or structures.
(e) Technical Assistance.-The Secretary of the Interior may award grants and provide technical assistance to the Ounalaska Corporation and the City of Unalaska to assist with the planning, development, and historic preservation from any program funds authorized by law for technical assistance, land use planning or historic preservation.