JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - Southeast Alaska’s largest tribal organization has submitted an application to put land in downtown Juneau into a federal trust.
The land includes the Andrew Hope Building and surrounding parking area on what was once a summer village inhabited by the Aakw ?waan. Richard Peterson, the president of the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, said putting that property into trust will be a huge milestone for the tribe, KTOO-FM reported (https://bit.ly/2pTcKhk) Monday.
A court decision last year made it easier for Alaska Native communities to seek federal trust status.
With lands in trust, tribes enter an ownership partnership with the federal government, have access to more federal funding and obtain authority to institute and enforce their own laws.
The Juneau-based tribe does not have any plans to build on the parking area, Peterson said.
“So you’re not going to see us throw up a five-story shopping center or something like that,” he said.
Juneau officials have requested an additional 30 days beyond Friday’s deadline to discuss the land proposal.
“When land goes into trust under these circumstances it removes regulatory authority over the parcels,” Juneau City Attorney Amy Mead said. “Those issues need to be worked out before the city can take a position. We really don’t know what Central Council’s position is with respect to how we’re going to coexist.”
Peterson said the tribe wants to have the city’s support as it goes through the process of getting federal trust land status.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs is expected to rule on the city’s request for more time in coming days.
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Information from: KTOO-FM, https://www.ktoo.org
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