Module IX- Alaska Governance and Contemporary Issues

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Essential Question: Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act 1980 has been supported and derided by Alaskans, both in 1980 when it was passed and today.  Describe three impacts of this landmark legislation.



In 1980, after years of congressional debate, President Jimmy Carter signed the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, or ANILCA, into law. This Act has been called one of the  most significant land conservation measure in the history of our nation. It protects over 100  million acres of federal lands in Alaska, which doubled the size of the country’s national park and refuge system and tripled the amount of land designated as wilderness. ANILCA expanded the national park system in Alaska by over 43 million acres, creating 10 new national parks and increasing the size of three existing ones.


There were several different versions of the Act that would be introduced, however, the struggle was maintaining a balance of development and conservation of lands. Since the issue concerned Federal land there were interest groups in the  lower 48 who were also involved with the process. Many were concerned about access.


Overall the ANICLA was primarily created, because most of Alaska's land was federally owned and under the Statehood Act,  Alaska was granted the right to select 104 million acres of land, which it could manage as a revenue base. The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act( ANCSA) also played a role in the conservation act. The Natives twelve corporations were granted land in Alaska for use and the environmental community was also involved with the ANCSA debate. There major concern was that the  land in Alaska was beginning to be over-developed. A lot of how the ANICLA debate was carried through was because of section 17(d) (2) of the act, which discussed withdrawing federal land for development . The lands discussed would be used for National Parks, Forests and refuges. Many of the concerns for the Act were based on acceptable means of access, were airplanes, motorboats going to be allowed into these lands and for what purpose? Subsistence was another issue that ANILCA has dealt with throughout the years. Many debated over who should be allowed or if Natives should be allowed on Federal land for subsistence, since these issues were never resolved the federal government now is in charge of subsistence on federal land and fisheries in federal water.

Not only was the Act critical for Alaska as a state in the preservation of lands, it added1.3 million acres to the Tongass Forests, naming 5.4 million of them wilderness. It also brought protection to a significant area of the state previously open to mining and other kinds of entry. West of the Canada border, the act created the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, along with the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge. There were several other lands included by the Yukon and  BLM land increased. Mt. McKinley remained, the park was renamed Denali National Parks and now would be protected.

Although ANILCA was enacted nearly 25 years ago, it still shapes what occurs on Alaska lands today. Some of these things include whether or not there is allowed certain activities such as: mining, building, hunting, fishing, recreational activities and using chain saws. ATV use in the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is now permitted but only for subsistence purposes and with strong stipulations.

Telaquana Lake, Lake Clark National Park and Preserve

While some issues, such as these, are finally working themselves out there still continues to be debates over the balance of these lands.

The overall impact of the  conservation act has assisted in the management of beautiful lands and allowed for more parks to be set aside which has aided with tourism in Alaska.  Despite the significant gains ANILCA has offered Alaska land, there is still a ways to go to ensure that our lands are protected,  according to National parks conservation association wildlife management, climate control and mining are some issues still facing Alaska and the debate continues....some examples include ANWR, pebble mine and the list goes on

In the infamous words of John Muir, " To the lover of wilderness, Alaska is one of the most wonderful countries in the world".

Examine Question: Describe the major reasons given for and against statehood

Picture from Explore Alaska!

On January 3, 1959 President Eisenhower affirmed Alaska to be the 49th state of the United States. Many people were for the statehood, however, there were also those who were against it and that is why it took so long to finally pass. Some worried about financial concerns. Alaskans soon discovered that statehood cost money. National politics entered into the picture because Republicans feared that Alaska would send Democrats to Congress, which could tip the scales of power. The Republican Eisenhower administration supported statehood for Hawaii, which was expected to be favorable to the GOP, but delayed on admitting Alaska. Others later were concerned because Funds were so scarce that the state proceeded slowly in selecting lands to which it was entitled under the statehood act. Again economics was an issue and those against statehood believed that they should hold off and just keep it a territory until Alaska was more financially stable.

 
A lot of Alaskans believed that there was too much congressional involvement in their own issues. Achieving statehood would abolish a lot of these involvements.  Supporters believed that achieving statehood would bring increased control of Alaska's natural resources and policies, more in keeping with Alaskan views. The state constitution clearly stated how natural resources were to be managed. All were to be developed for "maximum use consistent with the public interest." Renewable resources, such as fish, game, and timber, were to be managed to

Statehood gave Alaskans voting representation in Congress. Alaska had two senators and one representative so now they had a voice. The federal government had to now hold back on developing policies that were the responsibility of the state and local government now. Another plus for statehood was that federal government would have to relinquish control over fish and game.

Another prime example of the supporters of  statehood said it was a matter of justice for Americans who lived in Alaska and were denied their rights, and were ruled by an absentee government and absentee industries.The story Margaret Rutledge of Anchorage told  when she had been on her way to the inauguration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. She was reminded of the second-class status of Alaskans. At the Seattle airport she had to go through immigration procedures, which she said was humiliating. Before ending her testimony in tears, Rutledge told the senators that a "degrading influence had robbed me of the thing I value most--my birthright as an American."


When Alaska achieved statehood in 1959 the new state's constitution approved three branches of state government. These were the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. A state legislature replaced the territorial legislature and unlike the all-male, all non-Native early territorial legislature, the state legislature from its beginning included a wide representation of Alaskans. Native leaders came from widely separated communities. Whether it was to gain control over land and Alaska issues, diversity or for a voice when Alaska became a State, it appears it accomplished all of these and is really making a mark as the 49th State!



Extend Question:what other useful information insights/and or resources have you discovered
As an active member of my community I gathered a greater understanding and appreciation of Alaska as a State and the process that came about to become a State. I am very proud of those who advocated and continued to lobby for statehood, I believe in perseverance and recognizing that things such as becoming a state is important. I am also grateful for the Alaska National Conservation Lands Act and truly believe that it has helped save our environment as a whole. The whole understanding of how the dividend began was significant, but again I believe in order for us to be a productive state, we need to reorganize our process and allocate that money to things such as education and job renewal process. Alaska is still a fairly new state learning through the process and I truly have recognized how significant the balance of development and land preservation is. I know that there are many related issues that are on-going such as the pebble mine development.


Evaluate: Overall, this module was of great significance to me, as I tend to mention in just about every blog... I was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska and proud to say so. I now have gained further knowledge of how my beautiful state became a state and understanding the lengthy process is important to me. I also feel that as a younger state we continue to fight for our place in the USA and significance. Being the great 49th has come with a lot of controversy and tribulations but I feel that if we all continue to value one another and come to the table with pertinent discussions of how we can help Alaska as a state and people as a whole we will continue to be the great last frontier! My biggest gripe though is that there was too much information to choose from and so much I would love to research more, however, there just is not enough time to accomplish that.


Blogs I have visited:
http://clairepowellalaskanhistoryblog.blogspot.com/
It was interesting learning about the National Guard being involved with rescues in Girdwood
http://latitude61alaska.blogspot.com/
Being from Anchorage I enjoyed learning about the National Guard that is present in my own community
http://teachingtatitlek.blogspot.com/
I enjoyed your explanation of the Alaska Highway and I too have a picture of myself at that sign : )