One writer called the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act “a complex settlement of a complex situation.” That was putting it mildly. In essence, the final bill provided for 40 million acres and $962.4 million to be distributed among twelve regional corporations largely on the basis of population. In exchange, it extinguished all historic aboriginal land titles, all aboriginal hunting and fishing rights, and all previously created reservations, except the Tsimshian reserve on Annette Island. With extinguishment of these aboriginal claims, Alaska Natives obtained fee title to more land than was
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