BLM Alaska: Conveyance Management Home Page

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

Alaska



BLM>Alaska>Programs>Land Transfer>Conveyances

Print Page

Conveyance Management

The BLM Alaska has been conveying public land to the Natives, Native corporations and State of Alaska for more than 30 years. Under the Alaska Land Transfer Program, BLM conveys public land under the following distinct subprograms.

ANCSA (Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act) Land Transfer Program
State Land Transfer Program
Native Allotment Land Transfer Program

Conveyances Home

ANCSA Land Transfer Program

Admission of the State of Alaska into the Union did not address Native land claims. Discovery of huge oil reserves on the North Slope spurred settlement of the claims, and on December 18, 1971, President Nixon signed the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, granting approximately 46 million acres of land and approximately $1,000,000,000 to the Aleuts, Eskimos, and Indians of Alaska.

Native Allotment Program

In 1906, the Alaska Native Allotment Act authorized the Secretary of the Interior to allot individual Alaskan Natives a "homestead" of up to 160 acres. The Alaska Native Veteran Allotment Act, passed in 1998, authorized conveyance of allotments to qualifying Alaskan Native veterans.

State Land Transfer Program

At one minute past noon on January 3, 1959, President Eisenhower signed the proclamation admitting Alaska into the Union. Among the benefits and responsibilities granted to the brand-new state was 104.5 million acres of Federal land.

Photo taken in 1915, at conference of the Tanana Chiefs.

Front row, L-R: Chief Alexander of Tolovana; Chief Thomas of Nenana; Chief Evan of Koschakat; Chief Alexander William of Tanana.

Back row, L-R: Chief William of Tanana; Paul Williams of Tanana (interpreter); Chief Charlie of Mintu