First land allotments granted to Alaska Native Vietnam Era Veterans

photo by Greg Lincoln

by Greg Lincoln

On November 4th, 2021 history was made as the U.S. Department of the Interior announced that the Bureau of Land Management completed the first federal land allotments under the Alaska Native Vietnam-era Veteran Land Allotment Program.

Through this program, the BLM can provide eligible individuals the opportunity to select an allotment of up to 160 acres from vacant, unappropriated, and unreserved federal lands in Alaska or lands selected by the state or Native corporations, if that entity agrees to relinquish that portion of their selection. This represents the third time that federally managed land has been offered to Alaska Native Vietnam veterans, who did not have access to land allotments while serving during the Vietnam War, said the Department of the Interior.

The Alaska Native Vietnam Era Veterans Land Allotment Program was established by the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act of 2019.

Thanks to the work of our Congressional Delegation who advocated for the passage of this Act, which allowed several thousand Alaska Native veterans who served during the Vietnam era to apply for congressionally promised land allotments of up to 160 acres. Due to their service, many of these veterans missed the initial opportunity to apply.

“During the Vietnam War, 2,800 Alaska Natives served in the military—a higher rate per capita than any other group. Since the conflict did not end until 1973, both voluntary and conscripted service members were unable to apply for land before the deadline. Multiple attempts were made to get these native veterans their lands, but the federal government delayed at every opportunity. Decades passed, and these native veterans were dying,” wrote Alaska Senate Resources Committee Chairman Josh Revak.

As of November 4th, 2021, over 1,400 veterans and families have been contacted to apply. There are almost 130 applications received. The BLM has worked with the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs, as well as Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs to identify eligible veterans and their families.

If you are a veteran eligible to apply for this program, the BLM is asking you to contact them. They are ready to help.