[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 119 (Wednesday, September 10, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9080-S9081]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. MURKOWSKI:
  S. 1158. A bill to amend the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, 
regarding the Huna Totem Corp. public interest land exchange, and for 
other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


          the huna totem corporation land exchange act of 1997

  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I rise to introduce legislation today 
on behalf of the Huna Totem Corp. and the residents of Hoonah, AK.
  This bill would require the Huna Totem Corp. to convey ownership of 
approximately 1,999 acres of land needed as a municipal watershed to 
the U.S. Forest Service. This will ensure that the residents of Hoonah, 
AK, have a reliable source of clean water. In exchange for these lands 
the Huna Totem Corp. will be allowed to select other lands readily 
accessible to Hoonah in order to fulfill their ANCSA entitlement. This 
legislation also requires the exchange of lands to be of equal value 
and provides for additional compensation if needed. Lastly, the 
legislation requires that any potential timber harvested from land 
acquired by Huna Totem Corp not be available for export.
  Mr. President, the city of Hoonah is located in southeast Alaska on 
the northeast part of Chichagoff Island.

[[Page S9081]]

Hoonah has been the home of the Huna people since the last advance of 
the great ice masses into Glacier Bay, forcing the Huna people to look 
for new homes. Since the Huna people had traditionally used the Hoonah 
area each summer as a subsistence harvesting area, it was natural for 
them to settle in the area now called Hoonah. The community has a 
population of approximately 918 residents and is located 40 miles from 
Juneau; Alaska's capital city.
  Within the city of Hoonah is located the Huna Totem Corp., an Alaska 
Native Corp. formed pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act 
[ANCSA]. Huna Totem is the largest Tlingit Indian Village Corp. in 
southeast Alaska. Under the terms of ANCSA each village corporation had 
to select lands within the core township or townships in which all or 
part of the Native village is located.
  In 1975, Huna Totem filed its ANCSA land selections within the 2 mile 
radius of the city of Hoonah as mandated by ANCSA. Since the community 
of Hoonah is located along the shoreline at the base of Hoonah Head 
Mountain, the surrounding lands are steep hillsides, cliffs, or are 
designated watershed for the municipal water sources. Most of the 
acres, approximately 1,999, of this land are not conducive to logging 
or development due to the topography and watershed limitations.
  Therefore in order for the Huna Totem Corp. to receive full economic 
benefit of the lands promised to them under ANCSA, and for the city of 
Hoonah to protect its watershed, alternative lands must be sought for 
Huna Totem to seek revenue from.
  The legislation I am offering today would achieve these goals. By 
authorizing a land exchange between the Huna Totem Corp. and the U.S. 
Forest Service the residents of Hoonah will be assured a safe supply of 
drinking water. Additionally, Huna Totem Corp. will be able to fully 
recognize the benefits promised under the Alaska Native Claims 
Settlement Act.
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