Tribal Relations
The Department of Environmental Conservation is committed to enhancing the relationship between the state and Alaska's 229 federally recognized tribes. The DEC tribal liaison works with department staff, the Governor's Tribal Advisory Council (GTAC), GTAC Natural Resources Subcommittee, and other state agencies to address issues of interest to Alaska Tribes, tribal organizations, and the Alaska Native community. Additional duties of the tribal liaison are described in Administrative Order 300.
Alaska DEC Tribal Consultation Policy
This policy reinforces government-to-government relationships between the Department of Environmental Conservation (department) and the tribes in Alaska through consultation on significant matters of mutual concern.
This policy provides guidance to all employees of the department involved in any departmental action(s) significantly or uniquely affecting a tribe in Alaska and pertains to any tribal action significantly or uniquely affecting the department. It also reinforces the foundation for establishing and maintaining effective government-to-government communications between the department and the tribes in Alaska and promotes consultation and coordination with these tribes, with the goal of ensuring the department conducts consultation in a culturally sensitive manner.
Orders, Opinions, Agreements
- AO 186: Recognition of Tribes in Alaska
- Millennium Agreement between the Federally Recognized Sovereign Tribes of Alaska and the State of Alaska (PDF)
- AG Opinion: Legal status of tribal governments in Alaska (PDF)
- AO 290: Governor's Tribal Advisory Council
- AO 300: Alaska's Linguistic Emergency and Increasing Collaboration with Tribes
How to Reach Us
- Office of the Commissioner
- 907-465-5066
- Local and Tribal Government Coordinator
- Gina Shirey
- Division of Water
- 907-465-5272
State Resources
- APDES information for Tribes
- Alaska DCC&ED DCRA Alaska Community Database
- Alaska DNR DMLW Community-Regional/Village Corporation Index
- ANSCA Regional Corporation Boundary Map (PDF)
External Resources
- Alaska Tribal Directory (NCAI)
- ANCSA regional corporations (NCAI)
- Alaska Federation of Natives
- U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs-Alaska Region
Training Resources
Contact Us
If you are aware of environmental issues in your local communities in rural Alaska, please use the contact form below to alert us so we can provide a proactive response. We also encourage you to use the contact form to let us know of environmental topics of particular interest to you so we can tailor this page to best fit your needs.