Working With Federally Recognized Tribes
The National Park Service has a unique political relationship with American Indian tribes which is based in the U.S. Constitution and hundreds of treaties, statutes, regulations, and policies, and strengthened by a shared commitment to stewardship of the land and resources. The Service will honor its trust responsibilities to American Indian tribes, in part, through government to government consultation on Service actions that may have a direct substantial impact to the interests of the 229 federally recognized tribes in Alaska. NPS Alaska Region works with tribes on issues as diverse as subsistence, climate change, historic preservation, scientific research, ethnographic research, archaeological projects, mapping traditional lands, and many other topics.
Resources
Department of Interior
In 2011, the Department of the Interior developed and adopted a Policy on Consultation with Indian Tribes to affirm the Agency's support, and pursuit of a government-to-government relationship with federally recognized tribal governments. This policy applies to the work of the National Park Service:
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Working Effectively with Alaska Native Tribes and Organizations (US Fish and Wildlife Service desk guide)
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Secretarial Order regarding DOI's Tribal Consultation Policy
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EO 13175 - Consultation & Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments
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Bureau of Indian Affairs List of Federally Recognized Tribes (2017 list)
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Alaska Region Map of NPS Units and Tribes/ANCSA Corporations [PDF 3.3MB]
Management of Subsistence Harvest on Federal Public Lands
One of the most important pieces of conservation legislation in the history of the United States was the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) of 1980. Tribal interests were affected by different provisions in ANILCA, including the management of harvesting subsistence food resources on federal public lands. For information on the NPS role in implementing Title 8 of ANILCA, see Subsistence Management.
For additional links to National Park Service Programs and resources for tribes, see NPS American Indian Liaison Office.
Consultation with Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) Corporations
Following Congressional direction given in 2004 and 2005, the Department of the Interior developed a Policy on Consultation with ANCSA Corporations that was adopted by the Department in 2012.
For more information on Tribal relationships and coordination please contact:
Maija Katak Lukin
Alaska Native Tribal Relations Program Manager
Region 11, Alaska
240 W. 5th Ave, Anchorage, AK
C: 907.412.0384
Last updated: June 7, 2021