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Native Lands & Resources
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Ghuneiteen
Desiree Duncan Manager The Native Lands and Resources (NLR) department manages and provides services that enhance and protect the land, environment and cultural artifacts. NLR consists of Realty, Forestry, Transboundary and Climate Change programs funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Compact; the Indian General Assistance Program (IGAP), State Tribal Response Program (STRP), and Preparedness and Disaster Resiliency funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Cultural Resources program funded by the National Park Service (NPS); and the Indigenous Guardians program funded by the United States Forest Service (USFS). In 2020, the NLR department focused on water quality monitoring on transboundary rivers, harmful algae bloom studies, Climate Change Adaptation Plan, Indigenous Guardians program, Alaska Native Vietnam-Era Veterans Land Allotments, management of Native allotments and townsite lots, probate of restricted estates, and the repatriation of cultural artifacts.
2020 Highlights
“Managing and providing services that enhance and protect land, environment, and cultural artifacts."
Cultural Resources
The Cultural Resources program repatriates objects of cultural patrimony, sacred objects, funerary objects and human remains in accordance with the Native American Graves Protection & Repatriation Act of 1990 and the National Museum of the American Indian Act (NMAIA) of 1989. These acts allow federally recognized tribes to repatriate items from museums and federal agencies.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person consultations were not held with the Detroit Institute of Art in Detroit, Michigan and the Metropolitan of Art in New York, New York. Repatriated 14 objects from the Burke Museum of
Natural History and Culture, Portland Art Museum, and the Minnesota Museum of American Art. Received private donations of a Feast Dish,
Shaman’s Amulet, and grease dish/ladle. Awarded funding in the amount of $89,000 from the NPS for consultations with the American
Museum of Natural History and the de Young Memorial Museum. Received BIA funding in the amount of $50,000 to complete the construction of the Artifact Room to house all repatriated objects.
Environmental
The Environmental program develops environmental awareness, education, training and capacity building with Southeast Alaska tribes and communities. Hosted a virtual Southeast Environmental Conference. Over 60 participants attended with representation from Southeast Alaska tribes, Southeast Alaska Native Claims
Settlement Act (ANCSA) corporations, tribal organizations, state and federal agencies, and natural resource and environmental professionals. Collected a total of 34 water samples in Juneau, Alaska (17 from Auke Bay, 2 from Point Louisa, and 15 from Amalga Harbor) for the study of harmful algae blooms. Received funding in the amount of $120,000 from the EPA to host a Disaster and
Resiliency Expo in 2021.
2020 Highlights (Cont.)
Environmental (Cont.)
Received funding in the amount of $90,000 from BIA and $50,000 Native American
Agriculture Fund (NAAF) to purchase a greenhouse to promote food grown locally while educating communities on clean eating and supporting a more resilient and subsistence way of life in Southeast Alaska. Entered into a Challenge Cost Share Agreement with the USFS in the amount of $300,000 for the Indigenous Guardians program. Partnered with the Sitka Sound Science Center to conduct a COVID-19 survey to collect data to gain a better understanding of how Southeast Alaskans perceive the risk of COVID to address policy change; over 400 responses were received in 2020.
Realty and Forestry
The Realty program provides professional land management to Native landowners who own trust/restricted properties. Individuals owning Native allotments receive services and consultation in forestland management through the Forestry program. Processed and/or approved 10 land conveyances, allotment adjudications and probate of estates for restricted property owners. Assisted over 300 Alaska Native Veterans with information on the Alaska Native
Vietnam-Era Veterans Land Allotment which was signed into law on March 12, 2019. Created a Veterans Allotment and Benefit program to assist Veterans seeking allotments and benefits.
Transboundary & Climate Change
NLR continues to work on raising tribal awareness on climate change issues and transboundary mining activities. Conducted 7 water quality samplings (3 on the Alsek River, 2 on the Chilkat River and 2 on the
Klehini River). This is the fifth year of sampling. Received $125,000 in funding from the BIA to continue transboundary water quality samplings.
2021 Goals
Implement the Veterans Allotment and Benefit program. Amend the Climate Change Adaptation Plan to add socio-economic issues in Southeast Alaska. Implement the Greenhouse project to promote food grown locally while educating communities on clean eating and supporting a more resilient and subsistence way of life in Southeast Alaska. Complete construction of the Artifact Room to house safely store repatriated objects. Implement the Indigenous Guardians program for the purpose of connecting community-led stewardship and adaptation activities of diverse partners and to catalyze practices and approaches that support Indigenous stewardship, Indigenous traditional knowledge, conservation science and natural resource management.
