Under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA), Doyon, Limited and its village corporations are entitled to receive over twelve million acres of land. To date, Doyon and its villages have received title to over 11.8 million acres of land.
This year, Beaver Kwit’chin Corp., Danzhit Hanlaii Corp., and Doyon, Limited received title to additional land, marking another step forward in this monumental process.
After ANCSA was passed in 1971, Doyon and village corporation leadership took on the monumental task of selecting lands based on subsistence use, historic and cultural sites, and future resource development. These selected lands are conveyed from the federal government to Doyon through the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). BLM issues patents for each parcel of land and these legal documents establish Doyon’s official ownership and boundaries. This process began over 50 years ago and is still ongoing.
“I’m excited about the land Beaver Kwit’chin Corp., Danzhit Hanlaii Corp., and Doyon, Limited received this year and I’m grateful for the hard work the ANCSA adjudicators at BLM have put in to issue these patents. Every acre counts and slowly but surely Doyon and its Village Corporations are getting closer to the finish line. I encourage anyone curious about the status of their village corporation land conveyances contact the Lands Department. We’re always happy to meet with folks and talk about conveyances.” – Jaenell Manchester (GIS Analyst).
After receiving each patent, Doyon’s Lands and Natural Resources Department files these documents at the Alaska State Recorder’s Office, ensuring that Doyon’s ownership is recorded in the public records. This allows state officials and the general public the ability to research Doyon’s land ownership across the state.
Doyon’s Lands and Natural Resources Department keeps up-to-date records and maps, reflecting each new patent as it is issued. This enables Doyon to manage its land strategically – focusing on local subsistence use, managing trespass, providing education and employment opportunities, and responsible economic development of resources.
For more information, contact the Lands and Natural Resources Department at 907-459-2030, 1-888-478-4755, or lands@doyon.com.
