Doyon is one step closer to conveyance of a culturally important historic site with the introduction of the Geese House Site Conveyance Act this week.
Introduced by Senator Murkowski and cosponsored by Senator Sullivan in the Senate, with a companion introduced in the House by Representative Begich, the bill authorizes the transfer of lands located in the remote northwest corner of Denali National Park and Preserve to Doyon, Limited in recognition of Doyon’s selection of those lands under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) prior to the expansion of the Park in the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA).
The bill also stands as a recognition of the historic and cultural significance of the site to Doyon’s shareholders.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is Geese House?
The Geese House Site is not an actual structure or building, but a geological feature (natural rock formation) that has long been used by Athabascan people. It is one of only a very few physically defined cultural features selected by Doyon under ANCSA.
Where is Geese House located?
This historic site is in the general vicinity of Lake Minchumina, which is in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area in the Interior of the State of Alaska. The site is currently located on land managed by the National Park Service, near the confluence of the Birch Creek and Muddy River. Many other lands in the vicinity the Geese House site have already been transferred to Doyon.
The location of the Geese House Site within the preserve area of the Park is very far from the Park entrance, the Mountain, visitor facilities, the Park Road, or any other infrastructure, and the site is inaccessible to visitors.
What does the legislation do?
Geese House is currently on 21,598 acres of land selected by Doyon. The Geese House site was not selected as a cemetery/historic site under ANCSA section 14(h)(1) because the land was not available for selection under that section. It is in a section 14(h)(8) land selection which has not been decided. The legislation authorizes transfer of these lands from the federal government to Doyon.
The Geese House Site Conveyance Act would provide for the return of this sacred site to the Native people of the Doyon Region, enabling Doyon to restore, protect, and maintain this culturally important site for the use and benefit of current and future generations of its Alaska Native shareholders.
The acres conveyed would count towards Doyon’s total entitlement authorized under ANCSA, furthering progress toward the fulfillment of the ANCSA settlement.
Why is legislation needed?
ANCSA authorized the selection of the lands at the Geese House site, and in 1978, Doyon selected those lands as an important historical site, but the lands were never conveyed to Doyon. Although the lands were not originally part of Denali National Park and Preserve, the lands were added to the Park by ANILCA in late 1980, where they now comprise part of the northwestern corner of the Park, immediately adjacent to other lands conveyed to Doyon under ANCSA in July 2002.
Why is it important that Doyon owns these lands?
The legislation authorizes the finalization of conveyances which were initially contemplated under the Alaska Native Land Claims Act of 1971 (ANCSA).
ANCSA approved the selection of lands, and Doyon undertook a substantial effort in the 1970s and 1980s to identify culturally important sites within the Doyon Region to ensure that historic and cemetery sites important to the people of the Doyon Region were conveyed to Doyon. Geese House is one of these sites.
Why not convey to a local tribe?
In May of 1980, the Doyon, Limited Board of Directors funded a study to gather information on Native historic and cemetery sites in the Doyon region in order to ensure that those places important to the people of the Doyon Region that were not located on village or regional lands receive appropriate recognition and protection. Geese House fell into that category. It was identified by Alfred Starr, Sr. of Nenana. Geese House played an important part in the Native oral tradition of the Upper Kantishna Region in the past and is still of considerable interest and importance to the Native residents of Nenana, Tanana, and Lake Minchumina today.
Are Tribes and Native organizations supporting this legislation?
Doyon has committed to consultation with tribes and has conducted tribal consultation in conjunction with the National Park Service.
Many local Tribes and Village Corporations in the Doyon region have adopted resolutions of support , including Lake Minchumina Traditional Council, Bean Ridge Village Corporation (the Village Corporation for Manley Hot Springs), Beaver Kwit’chin Village Corporation (the Village Corporation for Beaver Village), Nenana Native Association, Mendas Cha-ag Native Corporation (the Village Corporation for Healy Lake), Native Village of Minto, Ruby Tribal Council, and the full board of directors of the Tanana Chiefs Conference.
What are Doyon’s plans with the site when legislation is authorized?
Doyon’s intended use of Geese House would be to allow shareholders the opportunity to visit this sacred site. Beyond shareholders, Doyon would limit the permission of others to use the site to those with a legitimate working need to visit the site for its maintenance, protection, or documentation of its history. Hunting, and the cleaning of hunted animals, will not be permitted at this site.
What other protections will be in place for these lands?
Doyon is committed to maintaining and limiting use of the Geese House Site for its cultural and historical values. The legislation as drafted also includes certain protections, including a limitation on Doyon to transferring the lands to any other entity than the United States government; a prohibition on mining or mineral activities of any type on the conveyed land; and a prohibition on development for any use that would derogate the culture value or significance of Geese House.
Geese House Articles:
Press Release – Office of Senator Murkowski – April 28, 2026
Honoring Tradition Through Legislation – Doyon – June 2, 2025
In Search of a Legend – Doyon – June 24, 2021
