ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews those sections of Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 (ANCSA) of economic significance. It considers possible overall economic impacts of ANCSA implementation, primarily from a regional economic perspective. The chapter focuses on the regional corporations and deals with major problems encountered in implementation of the Act, as well as an assessment of regional corporation performance. The degree to which rural development will be influenced by ANCSA corporations depends importantly upon how effectively these corporations discard conventional "economic" models and focus upon import substitutions, self-reliance, and intelligent control over the pace of change. In addition to reviewing the financial performance of the regional corporations, it is also appropriate to comment briefly on their performance with respect to stimulating economic development in rural Alaska. The Secretary should further monitor redistributions of Alaska Native funds by the regional corporations to ensure that village corporations and "at large" shareholders are receiving payments in accordance with terms of the Act.
