History
Doyon is the largest private landowner in Alaska managing over 12 million acres of surface and subsurface ownership across Interior Alaska. Our region has the longest border with Canada, borders six other Alaska Native Corporation regions, has the longest rivers, and the largest number of roads. Due to the size of the region, there are ongoing projects regularly occurring in the region from research, to local use, to analysis, to mineral exploration.
Doyon regularly participates in mineral exploration programs and has done so since 1974. Doyon closely monitors all exploration programs and engages surface owners in surface use agreements when village corporation lands are included in project areas.
When ANCSA was passed, there were three primary types of land selections. The first category is village corporation selections made within a 25 township withdrawal area around each village. Village corporations received first dibs on selections. The second type was the mandatory land Doyon was required to take adjacent to the village corporation lands also in 25 township withdrawals. The third type of land is outside of the withdrawal area, sometimes called deficiency selections. These lands were remote from the closest communities. Doyon’s leadership in the early days utilized a variety of resources to identify lands that had values for timber, minerals, and oil and gas. The idea was if Doyon made good selections it would help promote local opportunities for training and employment for shareholders and business opportunities for village corporations.
Tintina gold belt
Because the Doyon Region is located between the Denali and Tintina Faults, also known as the Tintina Gold Belt, much of the third type of land was chosen for mineral exploration. These lands are the focus of many of the mineral exploration projects in the region. A majority of the deficiency lands Doyon selects are located in the Fortymile district, in the eastern part of our region near the hub community of Tok.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
The Lands and Natural Resources Department and project partners provide regular updates to nearby communities. Promoting local hire, training, community contributions, and potential economic development to sustain our communities remains a top priority for Doyon.
Doyon monitors projects under the utmost environmental standards and best management practices.
Active Mineral Exploration Projects
There are several active stage mineral exploration projects on Doyon, Limited surface and subsurface lands. These lands were selected by early ANCSA leadership for their mineral potential to create and promote in-region economic opportunity including jobs, training, education, and contracting opportunities short- and long-term.
Doyon, Limited’s goal is to promote projects that provide important economic opportunities for shareholders and communities. Agreements include local hiring benefits and scholarship contributions. Doyon pursues the utmost communication and environmental standards in its natural resource exploration.
Tribes and ANCSA corporations receive regular updates and annual updates from Doyon and the organizations that we sign agreements with. Regular updates include direct box holder mail outs, newsletter updates, phone calls, emails, virtual webinar meetings, and in-person community updates when in compliance with local COVID-19 measures.
flat
Flat is an early-stage gold exploration project with Tectonic Metals, Inc. This project includes 92,000 acres of Doyon surface and subsurface lands. The agreement was signed in 2021. The first year of exploration in 2022 included testing of the historic core, geologic mapping, and trenching. In 2023, Tectonic Metals drilled oriented core and reverse circulation. In 2024, drilling started in late August and continued through September. Drill sites are checked for cultural items prior to the drill being moved onsite, and photos are taken before and after to ensure minimal disturbance has taken place and reclamation has been completed.
In 2025, Tectonic drilled 18,000m of mixed core and reverse circulation holes. Equipment was flown out to Flat to allow for an earlier start in 2026, with a large drill program scheduled to take place.
Community meetings were held in Shageluk and Holy Cross to discuss potential work opportunities, as well as several meetings with MTNT Corporation to provide project updates and opportunities.
East WISEMAN
East Wiseman is an early-stage base metal and gold exploration agreement with Wiseman Metals. The agreement was signed in March of 2022. This project includes over 290,000 acres of Doyon Surface and Subsurface lands. In 2022, an extensive soil sampling campaign and 22 shallow Reverse Circulation (RC) drill holes were completed. In 2023, geological mapping and an additional 16 holes were drilled. In 2024, geologic mapping and rock sampling continued. Exploration on East Wiseman is currently focused on copper.
In 2025, a small soil sampling program, a ground-based geophysical survey, and a geologic mapping program were conducted.
Nenana, sawtooth, and yaaddiimeey
The Critical Metals Alliance (CMA) is a project generation partnership between Mine Discovery Fund, Doyon, Aleut Corporation, and the Ilwella Group. CMA holds three exploration permits on the Nenana, Sawtooth, and Yaaddiimeey properties, where it is exploring for gold and antimony.
- In Nenana, in 2025, a small ridge and spur soil sampling program and a geological mapping program were conducted. Geologists walked the ridgelines, collecting soil samples and noting changes in rock type.
- The Sawtooth Mountains property lies between Rampart and Minto, and in 2025, CMA collected rock samples, soil samples, and geological mapping.
- Yaaddiimeey lies south of Tok, and similar to Nenana, a small ridge, spur mapping, and sampling program took place.
Throughout 2025, CMA held community meetings in Rampart, and Nenana to provide regular project updates and gather feedback from community leaders and residents. Community meetings were also planned for Minto and Manley, but were unfortunately cancelled due to cold weather.
scholarship contributions
Since 2019, $210,000 in scholarship contributions have been made to the Alaska Natives in Science in Engineering Program, GeoForce Alaska, Alaska Resource Education, and Doyon Foundation.
These contributions have benefitted over 100 Doyon youth from elementary to high school.
COMMUNITY
MEDIA COVERAGE
For more information contact the Lands and Natural Resources Department at
907-459-2030, or
1-888-478-4755 ext. 2030., or
lands-ab-doyon-xy-com.