Anchorage affirms Dena'ina lands and outlines formal ties with Eklutna village

The Municipality of Anchorage delivered an educational statement recognizing that Anchorage lies on Dena'ina traditional lands and describing steps taken to formalize government-to-government relations with the federally recognized native village of Eklutna. The presentation cited a 2019 Assembly resolution and a 2020 municipal ordinance that together established and clarified protocols for interaction between the two governments.

The Presenter said, "the municipality of Anchorage is committed to clear and lasting government-to-government relations with the native village of Alutna [Eklutna]." The statement said the Office of Equity and Inclusion is collaborating with the native village to provide educational opportunities for municipal employees on the history and legal status of tribes within Alaska and the municipality.

The Municipality referenced Assembly Resolution AR209-426, passed in 2019, which initiated conversations to formalize a government-to-government relationship because the Assembly determined the municipality lacked a corresponding formal relationship with the native village. According to the presentation, subsequent dialogue in 2020 led to AO2020-137, which amended the Anchorage Municipal Code to establish and streamline government-to-government processes with the native village.

The presentation summarized the native village's internal government structure: a seven-member legislative tribal council, a five-member judicial body often described as tribal court judges, an executive leadership that includes a council president (often called first chief), and an administrative office led by a tribal administrator for day-to-day operations. The Presenter listed tribal departments that include economic development; education and employment; family support; health and wellness; history and culture; housing and community; land and environment; and tribal enrollment.

The Municipality explained its own points of contact: the mayor (or the mayor’s designee) is the primary municipal contact with the tribe, while the assembly chair (or an assembly member designated by the chair) is the point of contact for the Assembly. The Presenter said the native village’s designated representative will have direct access to the mayor and assembly chair on village-related issues.

The statement placed the municipal work in historical context, noting the 1971 Alaskan Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) as the federal law that led to the creation of regional and village corporations; the Presenter said Eklutna Inc. was formed in 1972 as one such village corporation. The presentation included landholdings reported by the Presenter and described contributions by Eklutna Inc., including facilitating school sites, parks, utility rights-of-way, and transportation and energy projects within the municipality.

The Presenter also noted municipal recognition of Dena'ina heritage in 2006 and cited the construction of a convention center named for the Dena'ina people as part of broader efforts to educate residents and visitors about the region's indigenous history. The presentation closed by directing listeners to additional resources for learning about government-to-government relations and tribal history.

The Municipality did not announce a new formal agreement or a vote during this presentation; the statement recounted past resolutions and ordinances and described ongoing educational and protocol-building efforts.