Poverty and Public Assistance among Alaska Natives: Implications for 1991

The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) distributed 44 million acres of land and nearly $1 billion to Alaska Natives. The land and equity is currently being held by 12 regional corporations and 150 village corporations formed by the act. Native shareholders, however, will be free to sell the...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors Berman, Matthew, Foster, Karen Pyle
Format Report
LanguageEnglish
Published 25.04.1986
Subjects
Alaska
Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act 1972
Alaska Natives
Economically Disadvantaged
Ethnic Groups
Federal Programs
Land Acquisition
Legislation
Low Income
Ownership
Poverty
Poverty Programs
Problems
Public Policy
Rural American Indians
Welfare Services
Alaska
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Summary:The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) distributed 44 million acres of land and nearly $1 billion to Alaska Natives. The land and equity is currently being held by 12 regional corporations and 150 village corporations formed by the act. Native shareholders, however, will be free to sell their stock in these corporations for the first time on Dec. 31, 1991. This report addresses the magnitude of the potential problem posed for Native Alaskans receiving public assistance, should they exercise this option, noting that as many as 40 percent of low-income Native stockholders will be inclined to sell their stock since owning stock in the corporations could make them ineligible for public assistance programs. Relying primarily on data from public service agencies, the report discusses state and federal assistance programs for low-income Alaskans and outlines eligibility criteria for each, paying attention to assets that might affect Native corporation stockholders. Data on recent enrollments and trends in public assistance among Native Alaskans are examined. It was found that poverty among Alaska Natives continues to be widespread, and that almost all rural Alaskans receiving public assistance in early 1986 were Natives. It is concluded that the sale of 40 percent of the stock would have the effect of dissipating the benefits for Native Alaskans of the ANCSA, not only for those who sell, but possibly for all Natives. Eleven tables and a list of references are included. Two appendixes provide data on financial eligibility criteria for Alaska public assistance programs and on families below poverty level with and without public assistance income, native/non-native by census area, 1979. (TES)