Lands, Resources & Implementation
CONTACTS
(vacant), Director, 867-777-7912
Mardy Semmler, Lands Manager, 867-777-7913
Jozef Carnogursky, Lands & Resource Officer, 867-777-7914
BACKGROUND
The Gwich’in Land Administration is an administrative body of the Gwich’in Tribal Council established to manage their privately owned lands in the Gwich’in Settlement Region. These lands are called Settlement or Private Lands and do not include Gwich’in Municipal Lands.
The Gwich’in Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement (GCLCA) established Gwich’in title to:
• 16,264 km2 of “surface” private lands;
• 6,065 km2 of “surface/subsurface” private lands; and
• 93 km2 of “subsurface” private lands.
These lands were established as Private Lands in the GCLCA to:
• provide for certainty and clarity of rights to ownership and use of land and resources;
• recognize and encourage the Gwich’in way of life which is based on the cultural and economic relationship between the Gwich’in and the land;
• encourage the self-sufficiency of the Gwich’in and to enhance their ability to participate fully in all aspects of the economy;
• provide the Gwich’in with specific benefits, including financial compensation, land and other economic benefits;
• protect and preserve the wildlife and environment of the settlement area for present and future generations; and
• provide the Gwich’in the right to participate in decision making process concerning the use, management and conservation of land, water and resources.
Although the Gwich’in Tribal Council has the ultimate authority to establish land management policies and programs for both Gwich’in Settlement Lands and Gwich’in Municipal Lands, this will be done with the guidance of the Gwich’in communities.
The Gwich’in Land Administration will, on behalf of the Gwich’in Tribal Council, set guidelines and collect fees for land use activities. These activities include:
• gravel pits and quarries;
• oil and gas activities;
• mineral exploration and development;
• road construction;
• logging and wood cutting;
• recreation and tourism/outfitting;
• residential and commercial leases; and
• scientific research activities;
The Gwich’in Land Administration will also:
• consult with Gwich’in communities during the land use authorization process;
• maintain a register of land use activities;
• conduct resource/land use inventories;
• monitor land use activities on private lands;
• develop policies and procedures for land use activities;
For more information on how the Gwich’in Land Administration operates, see the Land Management and Control Guidelines, including the Fee Schedule.
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