43 U.S.C. § 1601 (PUBLIC LANDS)
§ 1601. Congressional findings and declaration of policy
Congress finds and declares that—
(a) there is an immediate need for a fair and just settlement of all claims by Natives and Native groups of Alaska, based on aboriginal land claims;
(b) the settlement should be accomplished rapidly, with certainty, in conformity with the real economic and social needs of Natives, without litigation, with maximum participation by Natives in decisions affecting their rights and property, without establishing any permanent racially defined institutions, rights, privileges, or obligations, without creating a reservation system or lengthy wardship or trusteeship, and without adding to the categories of property and institutions enjoying special tax privileges or to the legislation establishing special relationships between the United States Government and the State of Alaska;
(c) no provision of this chapter shall replace or diminish any right, privilege, or obligation of Natives as citizens of the United States or of Alaska, or relieve, replace, or diminish any obligation of the United States or of the State or 1 Alaska to protect and promote the rights or welfare of Natives as citizens of the United States or of Alaska; the Secretary is authorized and directed, together with other appropriate agencies of the United States Government, to make a study of all Federal programs primarily designed to benefit Native people and to report back to the Congress with his recommendations for the future management and operation of these programs within three years of December 18, 1971;
(d) no provision of this chapter shall constitute a precedent for reopening, renegotiating, or legislating upon any past settlement involving land claims or other matters with any Native organizations, or any tribe, band, or identifiable group of American Indians;
(e) no provision of this chapter shall effect a change or changes in the petroleum reserve policy reflected in sections 8721 through 8738 of title 10 except as specifically provided in this chapter;
(f) no provision of this chapter shall be construed to constitute a jurisdictional act, to confer jurisdiction to sue, nor to grant implied consent to Natives to sue the United States or any of its officers with respect to the claims extinguished by the operation of this chapter; and
(g) no provision of this chapter shall be construed to terminate or otherwise curtail the activities of the Economic Development Administration or other Federal agencies conducting loan or loan and grant programs in Alaska. For this purpose only, the terms “Indian reservation” and “trust or restricted Indian-owned land areas” in Public Law 89–136, the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, as amended [42 U.S.C. 3121 et seq.], shall be interpreted to include lands granted to Natives under this chapter as long as such lands remain in the ownership of the Native villages or the Regional Corporations.
(Pub. L. 92–203, § 2, Dec. 18, 1971, 85 Stat. 688; Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 809(p), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1844.)
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: References in Text
text: The Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, referred to in subsec. (g), is Pub. L. 89–136, Aug. 26, 1965, 79 Stat. 552, which is classified generally to chapter 38 (§ 3121 et seq.) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 3121 of Title 42 and Tables.
heading: Amendments
text: 2018—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 115–232 substituted “sections 8721 through 8738 of title 10” for “sections 7421 through 7438 of title 10”.
heading: Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
heading: Effective Date of 2018 Amendment
text: Amendment by Pub. L. 115–232 effective Feb. 1, 2019, with provision for the coordination of amendments and special rule for certain redesignations, see section 800 of Pub. L. 115–232, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of Title 10, Armed Forces.
heading: Short Title of 2025 Amendment
text: Pub. L. 119–23, § 1, July 7, 2025, 139 Stat. 403, provided that: “This Act [amending section 1613 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Alaska Native Village Municipal Lands Restoration Act of 2025’.”
Pub. L. 119–22, § 1, July 7, 2025, 139 Stat. 402, provided that: “This Act [amending section 1626 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Alaska Native Settlement Trust Eligibility Act’.”
heading: Short Title of 2004 Amendment
text: Pub. L. 108–452, § 1(a), Dec. 10, 2004, 118 Stat. 3575, provided that: “This Act [amending sections 1611, 1613, 1617, 1621, 1629g, and 1635 of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 852, 1602, 1611, 1617, and 1635 of this title, and amending provisions set out as notes under section 852 of this title and preceding section 21 of Title 48, Territories and Insular Possessions] may be cited as the ‘Alaska Land Transfer Acceleration Act’.”
heading: Short Title of 2000 Amendment
text: Pub. L. 106–283, § 1, Oct. 6, 2000, 114 Stat. 867, provided that: “This Act [enacting section 1629h of this title and provisions set out as a note under section 1629h of this title] may be cited as the ‘Kake Tribal Corporation Land Transfer Act’.”
heading: Short Title of 1998 Amendment
text: Pub. L. 105–333, § 14, Oct. 31, 1998, 112 Stat. 3136, provided that: “This Act [amending sections 1606, 1611, 1621, 1626, 1629e, 1634, and 1636 of this title and section 3197 of Title 16, Conservation, and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 3198 of Title 16] may be cited as the ‘ANCSA Land Bank Protection Act of 1998’.”
heading: Short Title of 1992 Amendment
text: Pub. L. 102–415, § 1, Oct. 14, 1992, 106 Stat. 2112, provided that: “This Act [amending sections 1606, 1617, 1620, 1621, 1626, and 1634 of this title and section 3198 of Title 16, Conservation, and enacting provisions set out as notes under section 852 of this title and section 539 of Title 16] may be cited as the ‘Alaska Land Status Technical Corrections Act of 1992’.”
heading: Short Title of 1988 Amendment
text: Pub. L. 100–241, § 1(a), Feb. 3, 1988, 101 Stat. 1788, provided that: “This Act [enacting sections 1629b to 1629e of this title, amending sections 1602, 1606, 1607, 1620, 1625 to 1627, and 1636 of this title, section 78m of Title 15, Commerce and Trade, and section 1702 of Title 30, Mineral Lands and Mining, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and under section 1702 of Title 30] may be cited as the ‘Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act Amendments of 1987’.”
heading: Short Title
text: Pub. L. 92–203, § 1, Dec. 18, 1971, 85 Stat. 688, provided: “That this Act [enacting this chapter] may be cited as the ‘Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act’.”
heading: Savings Provision
text: Provisions of Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, Pub. L. 94–579, Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2743, not to be construed as modifying, etc., any provision of this chapter, see section 701 of Pub. L. 94–579, set out as a note under section 1701 of this title.
Pub. L. 92–203, § 26, Dec. 18, 1971, 85 Stat. 715, provided that: “To the extent that there is a conflict between any provision of this Act [enacting this chapter] and any other Federal laws applicable to Alaska, the provisions of this Act shall govern.”
heading: Severability
text: Pub. L. 92–203, § 27, Dec. 18, 1971, 85 Stat. 716, as amended by Pub. L. 100–241, § 13, Feb. 3, 1988, 101 Stat. 1810, provided that: “The provisions of this Act, as amended [enacting this chapter], and the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act Amendments of 1987 [Pub. L. 100–241, see Short Title of 1988 Amendment note above] are severable. If any provision of either Act is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the validity of any other provision of either Act.”
heading: Congressional Findings and Declaration of Policy
text: Pub. L. 100–241, § 2, Feb. 3, 1988, 101 Stat. 1788, provided that:
“The Congress finds and declares that—
“(1) the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act [this chapter] was enacted in 1971 to achieve a fair and just settlement of all aboriginal land and hunting and fishing claims by Natives and Native groups of Alaska with maximum participation by Natives in decisions affecting their rights and property;
“(2) the settlement enabled Natives to participate in the subsequent expansion of Alaska’s economy, encouraged efforts to address serious health and welfare problems in Native villages, and sparked a resurgence of interest in the cultural heritage of the Native peoples of Alaska;
“(3) despite these achievements and Congress’s desire that the settlement be accomplished rapidly without litigation and in conformity with the real economic and social needs of Natives, the complexity of the land conveyance process and frequent and costly litigation have delayed implementation of the settlement and diminished its value;
“(4) Natives have differing opinions as to whether the Native Corporation, as originally structured by the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, is well adapted to the reality of life in Native villages and to the continuation of traditional Native cultural values;
“(5) to ensure the continued success of the settlement and to guarantee Natives continued participation in decisions affecting their rights and property, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act must be amended to enable the shareholders of each Native Corporation to structure the further implementation of the settlement in light of their particular circumstances and needs;
“(6) among other things, the shareholders of each Native Corporation must be permitted to decide—
“(A) when restrictions on alienation of stock issued as part of the settlement should be terminated, and
“(B) whether Natives born after December 18, 1971, should participate in the settlement;
“(7) by granting the shareholders of each Native Corporation options to structure the further implementation of the settlement, Congress is not expressing an opinion on the manner in which such shareholders choose to balance individual rights and communal rights;
“(8) no provision of this Act [see Short Title of 1988 Amendment note above] shall—
“(A) unless specifically provided, constitute a repeal or modification, implied or otherwise, of any provision of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act; or
“(B) confer on, or deny to, any Native organization any degree of sovereign governmental authority over lands (including management, or regulation of the taking, of fish and wildlife) or persons in Alaska; and
“(9) the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act and this Act are Indian legislation enacted by Congress pursuant to its plenary authority under the Constitution of the United States to regulate Indian affairs.”
heading: Judicial Review
text: Pub. L. 100–241, § 16, Feb. 3, 1988, 101 Stat. 1813, provided that:
“(a) Statute of Limitations.—
(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a civil action that challenges the constitutionality of an amendment made by, or other provision of this Act (the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act Amendments of 1987) [see Short Title of 1988 Amendment note above] shall be barred unless filed within the periods specified in this subsection.
“(2) If a civil action described in paragraph (1) challenges—
“(A) the issuance or distribution of Settlement Common Stock for less than fair market value consideration pursuant to section 7(g)(1)(B) or 7(g)(2)(C)(ii) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act [43 U.S.C. 1606(g)(1)(B), (2)(C)(ii)]; or
“(B) an extension of alienability restrictions that involves the issuance of stock pursuant to subsections [sic] (c) or (d) of section 37 of such Act [43 U.S.C. 1629c(c), (d)]; or
“(C) the denial of dissenters rights after the rejection of an amendment to terminate alienability restrictions pursuant to section 37(b) of such Act;
such civil action shall be barred unless it is filed within one year after the date of the shareholder vote authorizing such issuance or distribution, extension of restrictions, or denial of right, and unless a request for a declaratory judgment or injunctive relief is made before stock is issued or distributed.
“(3) Any other civil action described in paragraph (1) shall be barred unless it is filed within two years of the date of the enactment of this Act [Feb. 3, 1988].
“(4) No Native Corporation taking an action described in paragraph (2)(A), (2)(B), or (2)(C) shall issue or distribute stock sooner than fourteen days after the date of the shareholder vote authorizing such action.
“(b) Jurisdiction and Procedure.—
(1) The United States District Court for the District of Alaska shall have exclusive original jurisdiction over a civil action described in subsection (a)(1). The action shall be heard and determined by a court of three judges as provided in section 2284 of title 28 of the United States Code. An appeal of the final judgment of such court shall be made directly to the United States Supreme Court.
“(2) No money judgment shall be entered against the United States in a civil action subject to this section.
“(c) Statement of Purpose.—
The purpose of the limitation on civil actions established by this section is—
“(1) to ensure that after the expiration of a reasonable period of time, Native Shareholders, Native Corporations, the United States, and the State of Alaska and its political subdivisions will be able to plan their affairs with certainty in full reliance on the provisions of this Act, and
“(2) to eliminate the possibility that the United States will incur a monetary liability as a result of the enactment of this Act.”
heading: Disclaimer
text: Pub. L. 100–241, § 17, Feb. 3, 1988, 101 Stat. 1814, provided that:
“(a) No provision of this Act (the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act Amendments of 1987) [see Short Title of 1988 Amendment note above], exercise of authority pursuant to this Act, or change made by, or pursuant to, this Act in the status of land shall be construed to validate or invalidate or in any way affect—
“(1) any assertion that a Native organization (including a federally recognized tribe, traditional Native council, or Native council organized pursuant to the Act of June 18, 1934 (48 Stat. 987), as amended [25 U.S.C. 5101 et seq.]) has or does not have governmental authority over lands (including management of, or regulation of the taking of, fish and wildlife) or persons within the boundaries of the State of Alaska, or
“(2) any assertion that Indian country (as defined by 18 U.S.C. 1151 or any other authority) exists or does not exist within the boundaries of the State of Alaska.
“(b) Nothing in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act Amendments of 1987 (or any amendment made thereby) shall be construed—
“(1) to diminish or enlarge the ability of the Federal Government to assess, collect, or otherwise enforce any Federal tax, or
“(2) to affect, for Federal tax purposes, the valuation of any stock issued by a Native Corporation.”