ANILCA: A Short History

ANILCA- the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act- was passed in 1980 by President Jimmy Carter. This film outlines the building blocks of what makes ANILCA a groundbreaking and still relevant law in Alaska today; focusing on aspects of ANILCA like it’s ties to the Alaska Native Claim Settlement Act (ANCSA), Title 8 hunting and fishing subsistence rights, climate change, and how ANILCA impacts mineral and natural resource development in Alaska.

This film was produced during the 2025-2026 “ANILCA Storytelling Series”, made possible by generous support from Audubon Alaska and the Alaska Conservation Foundation Jeanna S. Williams Fund.

Workshop Info

Teaching about the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) of 1980 can be challenging. While ANILCA is complex, it is also landmark legislation, crucial for students to learn about in order to fully understand land rights, subsistence management, and federal lands in Alaska. During the 2025-2026 school year, See Stories youth interns worked to highlight key parts of ANILCA through interviews with tribal, federal, and state leaders. These films, alongside their lesson plans, serve as teaching tools for Alaska teachers to effectively engage learning opportunities for students about a variety of perspectives on ANILCA and its impacts on modern Alaska. This workshop was made possible by generous support from Audubon Alaska and the Alaska Conservation Foundation Jeanne S. Williams Fund.

More videos from this workshop:

See All

Land Acknowledgement

This video was filmed on Dena'ina Land. Learn more about land acknowledgements at native-land.ca.