Governor to sign bill giving Alaska Native tribes recognition

Supporters of the bill posed after its passage. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy will sign a bill giving state recognition to the 229 federally recognized Native tribes in the state Thursday, the Alaska Federation of Natives announced last week.

“This is an historic moment for all Alaska tribes,” AFN President Julie Kitka said in a prepared statement. She called it “a step toward building a stronger relationship with our state government.”

"State recognition is not expected to affect tribes’ legal relations with the state, but supporters have said it is an important symbolic statement by the state, which has historically fought efforts by tribes to exert their sovereignty," James Brooks reports for Alaska Beacon, part of States Newsroom.

The legislation heads off a potentially divisive referendum called by citizens who signed petitions circulated by supporters of tribal recognition. Alaska’s constitution allows a measure to be removed from the ballot if the Legislature passes a “substantially similar” law, and Attorney General Greg Taylor concluded in June that the bill "meets that standard," Brooks reports.