After the passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA), Section 14(h)(1) allowed regional corporations to receive a portion of their acreage entitlements in the form of historical places and cemetery sites. Since passage, BSNC has received over 40 historic and cemetery sites through 14(h)(1) selections, including Aġnatquksraq (Old Woman Mountain), conveyed in 2024. These lands hold deep cultural and historical significance, and BSNC is committed to preserving them.
The selection and investigation of these sites began in the late 1970s. However, many were later found to overlap with village corporation lands, Native allotments, or protected areas such as the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve. In 1992, BSNC and Kawerak, Inc. developed an agreement allowing BSNC to conduct the necessary investigations to establish site eligibility. Kawerak secured BIA funding, making this the first agreement in Alaska and an early example of federal compacting under the Indian Self-Determination Act. Since then, the program has continued in partnership with the BIA ANCSA Program.
The BIA ANCSA Program in Anchorage maintains a federal museum collection of materials from these investigations. For the BSNC region alone, this includes over 140 Elder interviews dating back to the 1970s, along with case files, photographs, and field notes. These records provide invaluable insight into subsistence practices, reindeer herding, warfare, and other aspects of cultural history. The BIA collection holds approximately 1,400 Elder interviews from across Alaska, preserving Indigenous communities’ diverse traditions and histories.
When sites are conveyed to BSNC, they have strict covenants ensuring their protection. Mining and any activities that diminish their historical value are prohibited and must be managed as National Register-eligible sites. BSNC regularly monitors these properties for human and environmental impacts. While none of BSNC’s sites have suffered from vandalism, natural erosion is becoming a concern. To prevent damage, BSNC does not publicly disclose site locations.
BSNC remains dedicated to safeguarding these historic lands. In future newsletters, we look forward to sharing more stories about the 14(h)(1) Cemetery and Historic Sites and the rich history of our region.