Book examines Native corporation fortunes

The CIRI Foundation has published a new book, “Alaska Native Corporations: Sakuuktugut.”

Authored by Alexandra J. McClanahan, the book examines Alaska’s 200 or more Native corporations, founded by Congress in 1971 as part of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. The book’s release coincides with ANCSA’s 35th anniversary on Dec. 18.

Sakuuktugut, pronounced suh-KOOK-to-ghut, is an Inupiaq word that means “we are working incredibly hard.”

The book places Native corporations in the context of Alaska history and explains how the corporations are creating their own form of capitalism as a result of ANCSA, according to a CIRI newsletter.

CIRI, or Cook Inlet Region Inc., is the regional Native corporation for the Anchorage area.

The book can be ordered through the Web site: http://www.thecirifoundation.org

—Anchorage Daily News