Alaska News

The Sealaska Lands legislation would transfer ownership of dozens of parcels in the Tongass National Forest to the regional Native corporation for economic development. The company wants to use these Native future sites for eco-tourism, energy and transportation development. Residents and business-owners using these lands are worried about the potential impact on some of their…

Among the most vocal critics of Sealaska’s land selection bill are conservation groups. They point to past logging practices by the regional Native Corporation and others, which have removed large stands of trees from Southeast Alaska, and say the region can’t support much more in the future. Most say they want Sealaska to get its…

We’re taking an in-depth look this month at Sealaska’s lands bill, which will soon be reintroduced in Congress. Among its components is the selection of about 200 sacred sites. In this segment of our six-part series on the legislation, KCAW’s Ed Ronco explains what the sacred sites are, and why they’re included in the bill.

If the Sealaska lands bill doesn’t clear Congress, the corporation says it could be forced to shutter its Southeast timber operations in three years. Many industry insiders say those operations are pivotal in keeping Southeast’s remaining mills and loggers working. Some say they’d also like to see Sealaska mill more of the trees it cuts…

The New Year will bring a new fight over Sealaska’s lands-selection legislation. The bill, which will be reintroduced in the new Congress, could determine the future of tens of thousands of acres of Southeast Alaska’s Tongass National Forest. Backers say the measure will revitalize a troubled timber industry and help villages struggling to sustain their…

About 25 elders in Hoonah got an early Christmas present from Sealaska Corporation yesterday when free firewood was delivered to their doorstep. Casey Kelly has more. Sealaska Corporation employees with help from the Hoonah High School basketball team deliver firewood to elders in the Southeast Alaska village community. (All photos by Casey Kelly/KTOO).

Don Young says he’ll re-introduce his own Sealaska land-selections bill next year – a version without changes proposed by Lisa Murkowski. Murkowski, meanwhile, says she’ll make further adjustments and hold another round of regional meetings on the measure. What happens depends on the results of November’s elections, which could bring in candidates who want to…

This 19-foot tall, 12-foot wide silo will hold 19 tons of wood pellets that will start heating Sealaska Plaza starting in November. (Photo by Casey Kelly/KTOO). A new addition to Sealaska Plaza went up over the weekend, and while it hasn’t attracted much attention yet, it’s certainly hard to miss. It’s a 19-foot tall, 12-foot…

Sealaska has named the new head of a subsidiary tasked with economic development in Southeast’s small communities. Russell Dick is the new CEO of Haa Aaní LLC, which will focus on resource extraction and other business ventures.Related Link: Head an extended interview and find links to related reports.

Lisa Murkowski’s defeat could impact the chances of Sealaska’s lands legislation passing. The Republican U.S. senator was the bill’s main backer in Congress. And primary winner Joe Miller has spoken against it. But the other two members of Alaska’s Congressional delegation say they’ll keep the measure in play.Related Link: See the latest returns, link to…

One-million dollars bail set for the Hoonah man accused of shooting and killing two police officers. John Marvin, Jr., 45, appeared in Juneau District Court on Tuesday. He was escorted by a state trooper and a judicial services officer, and dressed in red prison pants and shirt, and slip-on shoes with his hands & feet cuffed and…

Two Hoonah police officers died after being shot Saturday night. The alleged shooter remains in his house, surrounded by law-enforcement officers. The officers have been identified as 32-year-old Sergeant Anthony Wallace and 39-year-old patrol officer Matt Tokuoka. Both died of wounds inflicted by a single gunman. The suspect is identified as John Marvin Jr., a…

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski released changes to her Sealaska lands-selection legislation Thursday (July 1st). The revisions are based on amendments that have been circulating among interest groups for weeks. But officials say more changes may be on the way. The original bill allowed Sealaska to select a significant amount of timberland on northern Prince of…

Sealaska shareholders re-elected four board incumbents in ballots counted at the Southeast regional Native corporation’s annual meeting. They also rejected a measure that would have weakened board powers. The meeting was held Saturday (June 26) in Craig.Related Link: Hear related reports and read more about the meeting.

Sealaska’s controversial land-selection bill could undergo major changes soon. Amendments circulating among interest groups suggest shifts in selected timberlands and future economic-development sites. But nothing’s finalized.Related Link: Read the bill as it stands now.

Sealaska’s earnings rebounded last year. The Southeast Alaska regional Native corporation’s newly-released annual report shows it made some money after a year of significant losses. But it’s not fully over the economic hump.Related Link: Read Sealaska’s annual report & hear a report about 2009’s dividends

Some Sealaska shareholders are pushing for a change in corporate decision-making. They say the current discretionary voting system favors board incumbents, and slows change. Managers of the Southeast regional Native corporation say the current system works well.Related Link: Read the proxy statement, and hear a report on 2009’s term limits vote.

Sealaska has started a new division to focus on economic initiatives in Southeast Alaska. It shares the name of the regional Native corporation’s lands-selection effort. But officials say it will have a wider focus.Related Link: Read the Haa Aani CEO’s job description.

Sealaska will distribute almost $8 million to shareholders in April. The Southeast regional Native corporation has about 20,000 tribal members, more than half living outside the region.Related Link: Learn more about Sealaska dividends.

Sealaska says a survey it conducted shows more than half of Southeast Alaskans support a lands-selection bill it’s trying to push through Congress. The poll shows support increasing when residents learn more about the legislation. But opponents say they’ve found out enough to know it’s a bad idea.Related Link: Click here for links to earlier…