Congress passed the Alaska Native Claim Settlement Act. This set the scene for the creation of the Alaska Native Corporation. This Act was created in response to indigenous activism following the discovery of oil. The Businesses assisted Alaskans in dividing forty million acres into twelve regional corporations (Snigaroff & Richards, 2021). Alaska’s discovery of oil changed the lives of its indigenous people. Native Alaskans lived in sod tents for centuries and relied on fishing and hunting. In resolving Alaska Natives land claims with federal and state governments, the Alaska Federation of Natives was crucial.
Alaska’s discovery of oil made it necessary for the federal and state governments to move native Alaskans around and create new communities. The local population was unable to access quality homes or healthcare. Businesses provided an opportunity to strengthen the collective bargaining power of Alaskans for improving their welfare. Native companies allowed them to offer essential services like shelter and healthcare to isolated tribes (Reynolds 2021). This Act allowed companies to hold property in trust for local residents. As stockholders in the companies, more than 140,000 natives have rights to over 27 million acres within the state.
Environmental deterioration is the first effect of The Great Alaska Pipeline. Alaska’s indigenous people were co-existing with other forms of animals and flora. The pipeline was opposed by Native Americans because it could disrupt the migration routes of land animals. The Alaska pipeline caused sociocultural disruptions as native people were forced to leave their ancestral homes. (DiNovelliLang & Hébert, 2019) The pipeline compelled the native Alaskan tribes to abandon their towns, land, and resources and relocate elsewhere. The Great Pipeline’s positive effects include improved road networks, health facilities, access to social services and schools, as well as improving accessibility. In addition, local residents saw an increase in employment and economic opportunity.