Putting Land in Trust: A Guidebook for Alaska Native Tribes and Individuals
On July 13, 2022, the Clinic and the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) published this guidebook, which informs and guides Alaska Natives about the process of applying to have their privately held land converted to land held in trust for them by the United States. This “fee-to-trust” or “land into trust” process gives tribal members much greater sovereignty and control over land as compared to land they hold privately. The Guidebook explains the relevant statutes and regulations, the benefits and possible drawbacks of having land held in trust, and the details of the application process.