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The Corporate Whale: ANCSA, The First 10 Years Program 3 of 10

:
Publisher: Educational Media Services
SR Box 20155
Fairbanks, AK 99701

McPherson, Karen Michel


1982

Very Useful
Audio Material
All
Referenced by: ANKN Clearinghouse

Grade Level(s): 9, 10, 11, 12, 8, 7

Theme(s): ANCSA

Category: Corporations
The title and content of the series provide an analogy between the role of the whale in certain Alaska Native subsistence lifestyles, and the roles and responsibilities of the corporations created under ANCSA. Each tape in the ten part series begins with the following prayer by the Reverend Merculieff from St. George Island: "This land of Alaska, which thou gave to our ancestors who had come and gone before us, is now being handed to us a second time by the act of the United States Congress and our untiring efforts. A second chance is given to us by thee to be the new custodians and caretakers."
"Traditionally, Alaska's Native peoples, Indians, Eskimos, and Aleuts, were custodians and caretakers of the land they and their ancestors occupied and used; going where the fish and game were plentiful and survival needs could be met. Formal title to land, pieces of paper indicating ownership, was not necessary...But with the passage of the...ANCSA, on December 18, 1971, those traditional, internally recognized and validated means of custodianship were Congressionally replaced with the American business corporate structure."1 Program 3 summarizes corporations: their role and responsibilities in managing land, money, and shareholder needs. Interview segments include perpectives on the corporate concept from economist Lee Gorsuch (Executive Director, University of Alaska's Institute of Social and Economic Research), and Native leaders Emil Notti (first President, Alaska Federation of Natives; former President, Cook Inlet Native Association); John Sackett (Alaska State Senator; Chairman of the Board, Doyon, Limited); Roger Lang (past President, Alaska Federation of Natives; Board of Directors, Sealaska Regional Corporation; President, Alaska Native Foundation); Willie Hensley (founder, Northwest Alaska Native Association; former State legislator; past President, AFN; current Chairman, United Bank Alaska; President, NANA Development Corporation); and Charlie Edwardson, Jr. (Barrow; early leader in Statewide land claims movement).
1McPherson, Karen Michel, The Corporate Whale, Program 3 of 10, (Fairbanks, AK: Educational Media Services, 1982).



Information or copies about the resource can be found at:
ANKN Clearinghouse
P.O.Box 756730
Fairbanks, Alaska 99775-6730

Tel: (907) 474-5897
or email: ANKN Clearinghouse

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