The US Department of the Interior has transferred nearly 28,000 acres of land to the NANA Regional Corporation, an Alaska native group, under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA).
The transfer brings the total land conveyed to NANA to more than 713,000 acres.
It is a significant step towards the completion of NANA's land entitlement, with 96% currently complete.
Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said: “This land transfer is a clear example of the Trump administration delivering on its promises.
“The Department is committed to honouring the agreements made with Alaska Native corporations, cutting federal red tape and unlocking Alaska’s full potential. By putting land into Alaska Native hands, we are advancing opportunity in Alaska, while reducing federal barriers to resource development.”
The land, located at the western end of the proposed Ambler Road corridor, was previously under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
The transfer of control to the NANA Regional Corporation is in line with the Trump administration's priorities to reduce federal overreach and capitalise on Alaska's resource potential.
The ANCSA, enacted in 1971, was designed to resolve aboriginal land claims by establishing regional and village corporations that would receive the title to selected federal lands.
Although the initial selections were made in the early 1970s, the BLM has been working on complex conveyances such as this to ensure the fulfilment of the Act's provisions.
This latest action underscores the commitment of President Trump's administration to honouring agreements with Native communities, empowering local governance and expanding responsible access to America's natural resources, stated the department.
The NANA Regional Corporation is collectively owned by more than 15,000 Iñupiaq shareholders, who either reside in or are originally from north-west Alaska.
The corporation has advocated for the construction of a road leading to the Ambler mining district, which is rich in copper, zinc and lead deposits. However, the NANA cut off its association with a road project proposed by an Alaska state agency last year, reported Reuters.
Subsequently, the Biden administration declined to approve that particular road project, highlighting concerns over potential threats to caribou and fish populations, as well as to the indigenous communities in the area.
