The 11-member Assembly of Anchorage, Alaska will hold public hearings on opening government-to-government relations with the Native Village of Eklutna, which is north of the municipality.
Formalizing government relations would be a step in treating the Eklutna Village as a sovereign entity, similar to an Indian reservation in the lower 48 states. The Village has an estimated 50 tribal members, although that number is not released to the public.
Passage of the ordinance, which purposely uses the word “sovereignty” in its text, would be perceived as supporting the Village’s efforts to be allowed to put a casino on its land. Last year it sued the Department of the Interior to challenge its ruling that it doesn’t exercise government authority on its lands, and thus cannot operate a casino under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
The land was granted by the Alaska Native Allotment Act, and the Village says it has provided government services and held jurisdiction for 115 years.
The Assembly has held discussions of including the Village’s leader, Aaron Leggett in negotiations, such as developments within the Port of Anchorage.
The Assembly, led in this effort by Assemblyman Chris Constant, has said it wants to “decolonize” Anchorage.
