Press Releases

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Anchorage, AK – In a 7-2 ruling, the United States Supreme Court today resoundingly affirmed the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). The Court clearly upheld Congress’ authority to protect Native children, and the decision demonstrates a strong understanding of the principles of Indian law and the political status of Tribes and Tribal citizens. The majority opinion stated:

“We reject all of petitioners’ challenges to the statute, some on the merits and others for lack of standing.”

This ruling has broader impacts on other federal Indian laws and policies, including Congress’s plenary power to legislate on behalf of Alaska Natives and American Indians in areas such as housing, healthcare, and economic matters. 

This decision is especially important in Alaska, home to 229 federally recognized Tribes and countless Alaska Native entities, all of whom serve Alaska Native children and families. It is an affirmation of the 486 federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes and 59 Native organizations that filed an Amicus Brief in support of ICWA. 

ICWA has been identified as “the gold standard” of child welfare policy by numerous experts and national leading child advocacy organizations. When Native children maintain connections to their identity and culture, it yields positive outcomes, such as increased self-esteem and academic achievement. 

ICWA respects Tribal sovereignty and protects Native children by supporting Native families’ efforts to stay together and keeping our Native children connected with extended families and communities who love them and can help them understand who they are as Native people and Tribal citizens. 

Child welfare decisions can shape the entire future of a child and his, her or their family. Congress found ICWA necessary to “. . . protect the best interest of Indian [c]hildren and to promote the stability and security of Indian tribes and families . . .”. The landmark legislation was enacted to prevent the wholesale removal of Indian children from their homes. ICWA provides guidance to states regarding this disposition of child abuse and neglect and adoption cases involving Indian children, including minimum federal standards. 

The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC), Alaska Native Justice Center, (ANJC), ANCSA Regional Association (ARA), Alaska Native Village Corporation Association (ANVCA), Association of Alaska Housing Authorities (AAHA), and Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) all are united in celebrating this ruling.

“Today’s ruling protects what Tribes and our families have always known, connection to culture and identity is critical to the health and well-being of our children, families, and communities,” said Valerie Nurr’araluk Davidson, President/CEO of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. “People will do the most extraordinary things for the right reasons. Children, family, and community are always the right reasons. We celebrate today’s landmark decision as Tribes continue doing the incredible work to ensure services and programs meet the needs of our families.”

Alex Cleghorn, Chief Operating Officer of the Alaska Native Justice Center said, “This decision rightly recognizes tribal sovereignty and self-determination. It is a major victory for Alaska Tribes, Alaska Native children, families, and the future of Alaska Native culture.”

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ABOUT ANJC: The Alaska Native Justice Center (ANJC) was established in 1993 to address Alaska Native and Alaskan people’s unmet needs within the civil and criminal justice system. Its mission is Justice for Alaska Native People. ANJC represents Alaska Tribes in state child welfare matters that implicate ICWA and partners with Alaska Tribes to build tribal justice systems. Learn more: https://anjc.org/. 

ABOUT ANTHC: The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) is a non-profit Tribal health organization designed to meet the unique health needs of Alaska Native and American Indian people living in Alaska. ANTHC provides world-class health services, which include comprehensive medical services at the Alaska Native Medical Center, wellness programs, disease research and prevention, rural provider training and rural water and sanitation systems construction. The Consortium operates programs and services within the Alaska Native Medical Center with Southcentral Foundation. Learn more at: https://www.anthc.org/. 

ABOUT AAHA: The Association of Alaska Housing Authorities (AAHA) membership includes fourteen regional housing authorities that provide affordable housing development and services for 196 Tribes in Alaska. AAHA provides unified state and federal legislative advocacy, affordable housing development and funding information, and training and technical assistance, all in an effort to increase the supply of safe, sanitary and affordable housing and community development in the state of Alaska. Learn more: https://www.aahaak.org/.

ABOUT ARA: The ANCSA Regional Association (ARA) represents the presidents and chief executive officers of the twelve land-based Alaska Native regional corporations that were created pursuant to the passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971. ARA’s member corporations are owned by more than 160,000 Alaska Native shareholders. Its purpose is to promote and foster the continued growth and economic strength of Alaska Native corporations on behalf of Alaska Native shareholders, descendants, and communities. Together, ANCSA corporations employ tens of thousands in Alaska and across the world, providing critical support for national industries as well as communities throughout Alaska. Learn more: www.ancsaregional.com.

ABOUT ANVCA: The Alaska Native Village Corporation Association (ANVCA) represents the 176 Alaska Native village corporations created under ANCSA. ANVCA promotes the success of Village Corporations and the protection of Native lands. Learn more: https://anvca.biz.

ABOUT AFN: The Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) is the largest statewide Native organization in Alaska. Its membership includes 209 federally recognized tribes, 185 village corporations, 9 regional corporations, and 10 regional nonprofit and tribal consortiums that contract and compact to run federal and state programs. AFN is governed by a 38-member board, which is elected by its membership at the annual convention held each October. The mission of AFN is to enhance and promote the cultural, economic, and political voice of the entire Alaska Native community. Learn more: www.nativefederation.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 12, 2022

Anchorage, AK – Citing their defense of Alaska jobs and keen understanding of the issues facing our state, the ANCSA Regional Association (ARA) has endorsed Lisa Murkowski for U.S. Senate and Mary Peltola for the U.S. House of Representatives.

“Senator Murkowski has been a strong and reliable ally for Alaskans, and her leadership has been indispensable in our ongoing fight to fulfill the federal government’s promises to Alaska Native people,” said ARA President Kim Reitmeier. “Her unparalleled experience and relationships were critical to passing the infrastructure and energy bills that are bringing unprecedented levels of federal funds to Alaska, including crucial rural broadband and sanitation funding. At a time when Alaska is recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and a recession, we need Senator Murkowski’s leadership and legislative skill more than ever.”

“A critical part of my role as U.S. Senator is to educate my colleagues, raise awareness about the unique issues and opportunities Alaska has, and to ensure the Senate understands just how different our state is from the rest of the country,” said Senator Lisa Murkowski. “Working together with ARA and their membership, I’m proud to have helped deliver real results on the issues that matter most to Alaska Native shareholders and their descendants, and look forward to continuing this important work over the next six years.”

ARA Board Chair Sophie Minich said: “Representative Peltola is making great strides for all Alaskans. She got to work immediately after her historic election, passing a bill for veterans’ food security through the House and supporting the Willow Project, which would bring jobs and economic development back to Alaska. Her commitment to finding bipartisan solutions and bringing her Alaska Native perspective to critical policy issues is inspiring to all of us.”

“I am honored to receive the endorsement of the ANCSA Regional Association today,” said Representative Mary Peltola. “The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act is a foundational law for our state. ARA, and its individual Regional Corporation members, are deeply dedicated to ensuring that it continues to empower Alaska Natives. Their work, from promoting Native business development to offering shareholder scholarships, has resulted in ANCs becoming major economic drivers, ultimately uplifting all Alaskans.”

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About ANCSA Regional Association (ARA): ARA represents the presidents and chief executive officers of the twelve land-based Alaska Native regional corporations that were created pursuant to the passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971. ARA’s member corporations are owned by more than 150,000 Alaska Native shareholders. Its purpose is to promote and foster the continued growth and economic strength of Alaska Native corporations on behalf of Alaska Native shareholders, descendants, and communities. Together, ANCSA corporations employ tens of thousands in Alaska and across the world, providing critical support for national industries as well as communities throughout Alaska. Learn more at ancsaregional.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 25, 2021

ARA and ANVCA Welcome Supreme Court’s Landmark Decision Recognizing Role of Alaska Native Corporations

ANCSA Regional Association (ARA) and Alaska Native Village Corporation Association (ANVCA) issued the following statement, reacting to the Supreme Court of the United States’ decision holding Alaska Native regional and village corporations should be recognized under the Indian Self Determination and Education Assistance Act’s (ISDA) definition of tribes in Yellen v. Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation:

ANCSA Regional Association and Alaska Native Village Corporation Association applaud the Supreme Court’s decision to ensure the federal government honors its promises to Alaska Natives and the communities we represent. In doing so, the Court affirmed “what the Federal Government has maintained for almost half a century: ANCs are Indian tribes under ISDA.”

Through the creation of Alaska Native regional and village corporations, Congress established a novel approach to federal Indian policy and for nearly 50 years, these unique corporations have served the health, educational, welfare and cultural needs of more than 140,000 Alaska Native shareholders.

We are pleased to see the Court affirm Alaska Native corporations’ eligibility for CARES Act funds to help our people and communities recover from the devastating effects of COVID-19. Alaska’s economy is only now starting to recover, and these funds are needed to help our communities get back on their feet.

ARA and ANVCA would like to extend their deepest thanks to Alaska’s congressional delegation, the State of Alaska, and the Alaska Federation of Natives for their unwavering support of Alaska Native people throughout this litigation.

ARA and ANVCA are committed to building greater understanding about the critical roles ANCs play in the lives of Alaska Native people, and we stand ready to unite with Indian Country to better serve all of our Indigenous communities.

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For background on ANCs and the CARES Act, please go to https://ancsaregional.com/cares-act/.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 19, 2021

ARA and ANVCA Fight for Alaska Native People at the Nation’s Highest Court

The ANCSA Regional Association (ARA) and the Alaska Native Village Corporation Association (ANVCA) issued this statement following oral arguments at the Supreme Court of the United States regarding the Yellen v. Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation case:

Today, the ANCSA Regional Association and the Alaska Native Village Corporation Association were proud to appear before the Supreme Court to make our case for the federal government to keep its promise to Alaska Native people.

Our position is simple and clear. Language in the CARES Act should be executed to include Alaska Native corporations (ANCs), which serve Alaska Native people, including tens of thousands who are not members of a federally recognized tribe. Doing so would be consistent with the actions of many federal programs from federal agencies in previous administrations – from both political parties – and as Congress intended when Alaska’s unique service model of distinct Alaska Native organizations was established through the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.

For decades now, Alaska Native people have relied on ANCs to provide access to education, health, housing, and economic support. This misguided case puts these critical services at risk. If ANCs are no longer eligible to provide these services, there is no other organization or entity that can fill this need.

We hold strong our belief that Alaska Native people should not be punished for this unique system that Congress established for us 50 years ago. We thank the Supreme Court for taking up this case and we look forward to receiving the Court’s decision.

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For background on ANCs and the CARES Act, please go to https://ancsaregional.com/cares-act/.