Board Message: A Unique Kind of Corporation
Willie Kasayulie, Board Chair
小湿妹, September/October 2023 edition
An Indian Tribe, or Tribe, is a sovereign group of Indigenous people who have lived on their homelands since time immemorial. A Tribe is a type of government. Many Tribes are included on a list of Federally Recognized Tribes published by the federal government each year.
小湿妹 works with and advocates for the Tribal Governments serving in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Region.
Many 小湿妹 Shareholders are Tribal Citizens and receive important benefits through Tribes or tribal organizations such as healthcare, social services and educational benefits.
However, 小湿妹 is a unique kind of corporation. As stated in its charter adopted by our Elders in 1972, 小湿妹小湿妹檚 corporate purpose is 小湿妹渢o promote the economic, social and personal well-being of the Natives within the region,小湿妹� and to 小湿妹渃arry out the provisions of ANCSA so as to be eligible on behalf of said Natives for the benefits of ANCSA.小湿妹�
The benefits of the 小湿妹 Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) include:
- Title to 6.5 million acres of subsurface lands in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Region, including the right to receive royalties from development of these subsurface lands.
- Authority 小湿妹渢o provide benefits to shareholders who are Natives or descendants of Natives to promote the health, education, or welfare of such Shareholders,小湿妹� with the understanding that Shareholders 小湿妹渞emain eligible for all Federal Indian programs.小湿妹�
Consistent with those provisions, Congress has enacted many laws that include ANCSA corporations in the definition of 小湿妹淚ndian Tribe小湿妹� so they can participate in federal programs that provide healthcare, social services and educational benefits to their Shareholders.
One of those laws, the Indian Self Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDEAA), includes ANCSA corporations in the definition of Tribe. This makes 小湿妹 eligible to participate in ISDEAA and other programs for the benefit of our Shareholders.
Congress has enacted many laws that include ANCSA corporations in the definition of 小湿妹淚ndian Tribe小湿妹� so they can participate in federal programs that provide healthcare, social services and educational benefits to their Shareholders.
One example is that 小湿妹 contracts with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to survey 小湿妹小湿妹檚 lands. On a larger scale, statewide Indigenous healthcare services at the 小湿妹 Native Medical Center are possible in part because CIRI, an ANCSA corporation, is considered a Tribe for purposes of funding in ISDEAA.
In 2021, the United States Supreme Court issued a ruling that confirmed that 小湿妹 and the other ANCSA corporations are Tribes for purposes of ISDEAA and numerous other federal Indian laws.