Southeast Natives whose land claims were ignored in the 1971 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act are lobbying Congress for swift settlement of their land entitlements. 

But one Chilkoot Native lobbying to kill the agreement proposed by the Southeast Alaska ANCSA Land Acquisition Coalition (SAALAC), saying hidden obligations to timber companies will undercut tribal authority and divert millions in profits that should go to Native shareholders. 

Richard Young has asked Alaska’s congressional delegation not to endorse a bill that proposes to transfer about 11,5000 acres in village allotments to Natives in Haines, Petersburg, Wrangell, Tenakee and Ketchikan. An Arizona resident who operates a design and engineering consulting firm, Young was born in Haines. As a member of the Chilkoot Kaagwaantaan clan, he would stand to gain from a settlement but questions whether what’s in the works now is right. 

He said this week he’s not opposed to the land transfer but that SAALAC has paid too high a  price for timber industry support and sponsorship of what he calls a “fast track” bill. 

The legislation has not been officially introduced but is in the hands of the Alaska delegation,where wording is being finalised, said Mitch Rose, press secretary for Sen. Ted Stevens. 

Based on conversations he’s had with SAALAC representatives, Young alleges the group has sold out the interest of landless Natives in the coalition by promising industry backers a 10-year supply of timber and by surrendering management authority to industry executives. 

“The process of redress has been time-consuming, 23 years, and excruciating… (and) village members (have) become susceptible to offers of guaranteed fast redress…. What is emerging is not village redress but a solution for the (industry’s) depleted timber allotments,” Young said. “This is exploitation.” 

By committing now to future sale agreements, Young said the landless coalition is losing bargaining power and profits. 

SAAL:AC project director Robert WIllard this week denied Young’s allegations, saying that while the coalition has been approached “by different individuals who’d like us to deliver timber to their missile,” the group has made no commitments. “Nothing in concrete. Nothing has been cast in stone…. There’s not been any agreement, formal or otherwise, with the timber industry.” 

Native corporations Klukwan Inc., and Sealaska have donated a combined $800,000 toward the SAALAC cause, but the loans do not obligate the coalition to do business with the corporations, said Ralph Strong, who recently stepped down as Klukwan board member. 

Willard said SAALAC has consulted with Klukwan Forest Products about which lands may be selected of the entitlements, but called Young “overly suspicious” for criticizing help the landless coalition has received from industry. 

KFP president Bob Loiselle confirmed that his company has given “technical assistance” to SAALAC, but wouldn’t elaborate how that’s been given to whether any sale agreements have been made. “I’m not going to comment on anything to do with this subject,” he said. “I’m not sure how much they want this discussed.” 

Strong said terms of a loan agreement with SAALAC would give Klukwan, Inc., first right of refusal on bids for purchase and marketing of timber from selected lands. If the coalition chose a firm other than Klukwan it would be obligated to repay the $00,000. If the coalition’s efforts ails, the money would be considered a grant, he said. 

“We weren’t dictating to them that they would give us rights to the timber. That wouldn’t be propers,” said Strong. Klukwan used rich timber holdings from its ANCSA settlement to make it one of the wealthiest Native corporations in the state. 

SEALASKA would benefit from the land acquisition by gaining subsurface rights to all the acreage. 

The regional Native corporation also would be repaid fully for the loan if the coalition were successful. Other terms of the Sealaska loan weren’t available at press time. 

Young said SAALAC’s industry support didn’t come without strings. “The (timber industry) perceived the plight (of landless Natives) as an unrestricted avenue to profit and gain and immediately became “friends” and “benefactors” tot he landless communities and members,” he said calling the support “benevolence through deception.” 

A “technical assistance program” sponsored by timber companies will “guide” use of the new entitlements, Young said, taking away tribal powers of self determination for land use. 

Willard denies those assertions as well, saying that separate corporations will be established for each of the five coalition communities and their boards of directors will retain management authority of Congress approves a settlement. 

He said Young is misinformed. “It’ d be a shame if we came all this far and had somebody derail it because of baseless charges.” 

SAALAC’s efforts gained movement this spring when a U.S. Department Interior study supported the landless Natives’ claims setting the stage for Congressional Action.