Bristol Bay Native Corporation

Bristol Bay Native Corporation or the BBNC is one of 14 Alaska native corporations formed under
the passing of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act during the 1970s. This act was passed to
ensure that land and natural resources in Alaska will be experienced, enriched and cultivate by
people no other than Alaskans.

What can we learn from the formulation of this act and the fact that these 14 regional
corporations long exist up to this day?
First, there is a lot of beauty in preservation. Now that we are in the age of globalization and
industrialization, we are so used to seeing land reformations and transformations that we can
barely identify what that particular land area used to be. While we are so used to ride the hype
of urbanized development, we forget that land is best preserved in its natural state such that we
can still get benefits from it. Transforming mountains and terrains into skyscrapers and tall
buildings may be indicative that we are truly in the age of urbanization, but didnt you notice
that the mere presence of these infrastructures is whats causing lands general instability?
Some may not even believe the phenomenon called global warming, but the effects of global
warming is truly being heightened because we have transformed land is so many different ways.
Second, commercial interest should be below the interest of the general public. The general
good of the people should be served first and foremost before the interest of the few. Coming
from the debate that sparked recently about the controversial plan of conducting an open mine
pit in Bristol Bay to extract minerals such as gold, silver, calcium and molybdenum to name a
few, it brought to the fore the different possibilities and effects of an open pit mining to the
livelihood of the Bristol Bay Alaskan natives, which is fishing. The waters at Bristol Bay are
known to be home to the worlds largest sockeye salmon. It is the center of sockeye salmon in
Alaska and its neighboring states. Much of the livelihood of the natives of Bristol Bay is based on
it, and should the proposed open pit mining project be pursued, it will greatly affect the lives,
the sources of income, the livelihood of its people, who have done nothing but preserve Bristol
Bays beauty and continued sustenance. It is an instance in the history of Bristol Bay where
nations all over the world can learn from.
And lastly, when we claim what is rightfully ours from the very beginning, we get to preserve a
place that future generations will benefit from. Ultimately, what the Alaskan natives back in
1971 started and the fruits that it brought since then is being appreciated and enjoyed
wholeheartedly by their predecessors and descendants. This teaches a kind of preservation and
stewardship that helps the future generations build their lives in such a way that they can get
started on the right track and not be in endless strife against people who try to get in the way of
their development.