The
Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (
ANCSA) was signed into law by
President Richard M. Nixon on December 18, 1971, constituting at the time the largest land claims settlement in
United States history. ANCSA was intended to resolve long-standing issues surrounding aboriginal land claims in Alaska, as well as to stimulate economic development throughout
Alaska. The settlement established
Alaska Native claims to the land by transferring titles to twelve
Alaska Native regional corporations and over 200 local village corporations. A thirteenth regional corporation was later created for Alaska Natives who no longer resided in
Alaska. The act is codified as 43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.