§ 1603. — Declaration of settlement.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 43USC1603]
TITLE 43--PUBLIC LANDS
CHAPTER 33--ALASKA NATIVE CLAIMS SETTLEMENT
Sec. 1603. Declaration of settlement
(a) Aboriginal title extinguishment through prior land and water area
conveyances
All prior conveyances of public land and water areas in Alaska, or
any interest therein, pursuant to Federal law, and all tentative
approvals pursuant to section 6(g) of the Alaska Statehood Act, shall be
regarded as an extinguishment of the aboriginal title thereto, if any.
(b) Aboriginal title and claim extinguishment where based on use and
occupancy; submerged lands underneath inland and offshore water
areas and hunting or fishing rights included
All aboriginal titles, if any, and claims of aboriginal title in
Alaska based on use and occupancy, including submerged land underneath
all water areas, both inland and offshore, and including any aboriginal
hunting or fishing rights that may exist, are hereby extinguished.
(c) Aboriginal claim extinguishment where based on right, title, use, or
occupancy of land or water areas; domestic statute or treaty
relating to use and occupancy; or foreign laws; pending claims
All claims against the United States, the State, and all other
persons that are based on claims of aboriginal right, title, use, or
occupancy of land or water areas in Alaska, or that are based on any
statute or treaty of the United States relating to Native use and
occupancy, or that are based on the laws of any other nation, including
any such claims that are pending before any Federal or state court or
the Indian Claims Commission, are hereby extinguished.
(Pub. L. 92-203, Sec. 4, Dec. 18, 1971, 85 Stat. 689.)
References in Text
Section 6(g) of the Alaska Statehood Act, referred to in subsec.
(a), is section 6(g) of Pub. L. 85-508, July 7, 1958, 72 Stat. 339,
which is set out as a note preceding section 21 of Title 48, Territories
and Insular Possessions.
