s we celebrate the anniversary of the signing of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA), Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (ASRC) reflects on the strength, resilience, and determination of our early leaders. Those who fought to ensure the Iñupiat of the Arctic Slope would rightly benefit from the oil and gas development that was about to take place on our ancestral homelands. Not only did the passage of ANCSA create ASRC but it was also the reason for the incorporation of the North Slope Borough (NSB). ASRC and the NSB, two entities that represent the people in the northernmost region of the United States. Two entities whose origins are closely tied—without one, the other may not have come to be. Two entities who owe their existence to the coordinated efforts of the Iñupiat people of the Arctic Slope region.
ANCSA passed on December 18, 1971, and ASNA was the only Native association to oppose the legislation, again on the simple premise that our region did not get enough land. Even so, our people abided by the terms of the law. ASRC incorporated on June 22, 1972, and our early leaders, including Jacob Adams Sr. and Oliver Leavitt, began enrolling our shareholders, selecting lands, and starting our early businesses.
GeorgeBurba | iStock
GeorgeBurba | iStock

Despite our region’s opposition to ANCSA, the Iñupiat people of the Arctic Slope took control of their destiny through the formation of a municipal government.
Today there are many facets to our modern Iñupiat identity. In the blink of an eye, we adapted to comfortably move between our traditional Iñupiat roles and modern westernized roles. Hunter. Shareholder. Whaling captain. Mayor. Seamstress. Board member. We are resilient and we are adaptable. We will continue to face our challenges with strength and integrity. We will keep our eyes on the horizon and keep future generations of Iñupiat in mind as we chart our path forward—just like those who came before us.