Question.2405 - Based on your reading in the webtext, select one of the following thesis statements. Your response should be two to three paragraphs in length. The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) and the Native corporation system have been good for Alaska Natives. OR ANCSA and the Native corporation system have been bad for Alaska Natives. Next, revise the statement you have chosen to reflect the complexity of the historical events surrounding this issue. Provide specific examples of how ANCSA and the Native corporation system have had a positive or negative impact—or perhaps both—on Alaska Natives. Further illustrate the complexity of this issue by showing how the passage of ANCSA was contingent on at least three historical events or forces. In response to your peers, reflect on their revised statement. Describe the ways you find it shows the complexity of the event, and provide a suggestion for how they can further develop the statement or the supporting examples.
Answer Below:
The Alaska Native Claims-Settlement Act was an approach to extinguish aboriginal Alaskans' land titles (ownerships). President Nixon approved the act by signing it on 18 th December 1971. Natives received around 44 million acres of land from the federal government, which was the one-ninth area of entire Alaska. Besides, $462.5 million was paid directly to the natives. In contrast, the government stated that $500 million would be paid from the state's oil revenues, which would be settled over the upcoming years. It was the largest land-claim settlement in the history of the USA. The act has divided Alaska into 12 regions and created more than 200 village or local corporations (ANCSAREGIONAL, 2021). Besides, the act mandated that native stakeholders own these corporations. The Native corporation system allowed natives to use diverse natural resources, including minerals and lands. These for-profit corporations would give yearly dividends to stakeholders based on their stakes and achieved profits. Thus, ANCSA and the creation of native corporations have benefited the natives of Alaska in various ways. The corporation created different jobs for natives. Besides, substantial shares and dividends have secured the future of Alaska people and their upcoming generations. Moreover, ANCSA has ensured the development of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, which increased business opportunities and related profits through the trading of oil and other natural resources. The corporations have helped improve the economic stability of both non- natives and natives. However, some corporations in remote areas have not performed well due to poor access to the outer market. Meanwhile, ANCSA has established a permanent fund for all Alaskans. The state uses 25 oil- land royalties to develop benefits for citizens (Tysiachniouk, 2020). According to 2015 data, the state paid over $51 billion in dividends to all qualified Alaskans. Although some natives believed that the settlement had weakened their heritage, considering the myriad benefits of the deal, it was a highly beneficial deal for natives. References ANCSAREGIONAL. (2021). About the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. Retrieved from https://ancsaregional.com/about- ancsa/#:~:text=Since%20the%20passage%20of%20ANCSA,directly%20or%20indire ctly%2C%20all%20Alaskans. Tysiachniouk, M. S. (2020). Disentangling Benefit-Sharing Complexities of Oil Extraction on the North Slope of Alaska. Sustainability, 12(13), 5432.More Articles From History