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Overview
- "Indian Country: Two Destinies, One Land". The Anchorage Daily News ran this series of stories over five days in July 1997. The stories examine the Venetie "Indian Country" case, the Yupiit Nation confederation in Western Alaska, the Indian Child Welfare Act, and other Native sovereignty issues in Alaska. Photos included.
- "A Primer on Alaska Native Sovereignty". By Douglas K. Mertz. Juneau: Law Offices of Douglas Kemp Mertz, 1991.
Federal Recognition of Alaska Tribes
- "A Move Toward Sovereignty: Interior Publishes Alaska Tribe List". NARF Legal Review 19(1), Winter/Spring 1994. On October 15, 1993 the U.S. Department of Interior published a list of Alaska Native villages recognized by the federal government as tribal entities; this article discusses what led to this recognition and what it means to sovereignty for Alaska Native villages.
- Native Entitities within the State of Alaska. Indian Entities Recognized and Eligible to Receive Services from the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs, December 21, 1998. From the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
- Alaska Native Villages / Alaska Native Tribes. Comprehensive on-line directory of federally recognized Alaska tribes. From the American Indian Heritage Foundation.
Alaska Natives Commission
Venetie "Indian
Country" Case
In Alaska v. Native
Village of Venetie Tribal Government, decided on November
20, 1996, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the decision
of the Federal District Court for the District of Alaska and
ruled that ANCSA did not extinguish "Indian Country"
in Alaska, as is claimed by the State of Alaska, and that land
occupied by the Neets'aii Gwich'in people of Venetie and Arctic
Village is Indian Country where tribal powers prevail over state
law in areas such as taxation, zoning, and land use management,
civil and criminal misdemeanor jurisdiction over tribal members.
The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the State of Alaska's
appeal in the case on December 10, 1997; Venetie was represented
by the Native American Rights
Fund (NARF). On February 25, 1998, the U.S. Supreme Court
unanimously reversed the Ninth Circuit decision, ruling that
the tribe's land was not "Indian Country."
- Alaska v. Native Village of Venetie Tribal Government (9th Cir. Case No. 96-35042, decided Nov. 20, 1996). The decision of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The Native Village of Venetie (pronounced "VEE-nuh-tie") is the local council governing the Gwich'in Athabascan communities of Venetie and Arctic Village.
- December 6, 1996. Press release from the Native American Rights Fund announcing the Ninth Circuit decision.
- "Yes, there is Indian Country in Alaska!". NARF Legal Review 22(1), Winter/Spring 1997. The lead article in this issue of the Native American Rights Fund's legal review announces Venetie's Ninth Circuit victory and reviews the case's history.
- January 23, 1997. Press release of Governor Tony Knowles announcing the State of Alaska's decision to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
- January 24, 1997. Press release of Senator Frank Murkowski about his discussion with Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt regarding the case.
- February 3, 1997. Speech of Senator Frank Murkowski to the Alaska State Legislature; includes discussion of the Venetie case.
- Senate Bill 74. "An Act making appropriations concerning the state's position on the sovereign powers of Native tribal governments and providing for an effective date." SB 74 passed both houses of the Alaska State Legislature and was signed into law (becoming by Governor Tony Knowles on March 8, 1997, with an effective date of March 9, 1997. It $500,000 to the Alaska Department of Law and $500,000 to the Alaska Legislative Council to appeal the Venetie decision.
- "Indian Country in Alaska: The Venetie Decision". Native American Rights Fund Justice Newsletter, Spring 1997. Background on the Venetie case placing it in the context of Alaska history, ANCSA, and federal Indian law.
- May 20, 1997. Press release from the Native American Rights Fund announcing the filing of a brief to the Supreme Court responding to the State of Alaska's appeal.
- June 23, 1997. Press release of Senator Frank Murkowski announcing the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to hear the State of Alaska's appeal.
- June 23, 1997. Press release from the Native American Rights Fund regarding the high court's decision to hear the case.
- "Indian Country: Two Destinies, One Land". Series published in the Anchorage Daily News in July 1997.
- August 21, 1997. Press release of Governor Tony Knowles announcing the State of Alaska's filing of a 50-page brief to the Supreme Court arguing its side of the case.
- Alaska v. Native Village of Venetie Tribal Government (U.S. Supreme Court, No. 96-1577, decided Feb. 25, 1998). The decision of the U.S. Supreme Court, ruling that land helf by the Native Village of Venetie is not "Indian Country." See also the syllabus summarizing the case.
- February 25, 1998. Statement of Governor Tony Knowles reacting to the U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Venetie case.
Other sovereignty information
- Nenana Fuel Co. v. Venetie (7/24/92) sp-3869
- "American Indians". A paper about the Helsinki Final Act and Native American sovereignty.