468 



For some, the Tongass has become a battleground where 

 outside competing interests vie for control. To others it is 

 simply a scenic landscape to be viewed from tlie decks of a 

 tour vessel or from the pages of a visitor's photo album. 



But for us, from Fort Tongass to Chilkat....we know this 

 land as Tlingit Aani. "Human" land. Our land. 



Our stake in the Tongass issue is appropriate because we 

 hold valid, existing claims to land entitlements fashioned by 

 ANCSA. However, the fulfillment of those entitlements 

 remains incomplete. 



Our membership of claimants from the five communities 

 of Wrangell, Petersburg, Ketchikan, Tenakee and Haines, 

 each have factual, logical and valid claims for the 

 reconveyance of five townships of land from die Tongass. 



We contend that these communities should be treated 

 fairly and equitably along with the other village corporations 

 under the original guidelines for village enroUees that 

 Congress itself approved. 



Fair and equitable treatment means tliat these claimants 

 must be given their respective land entitlements which 

 remain pending. 



