---
kind: "section"
citation: "43 U.S.C. § 1602"
title: "43"
title_heading: "Public Lands"
number: "1602"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/43/1602"
units:
  - "Chapter 33 — Alaska Native Claims Settlement"
---

# §1602. Definitions


For the purposes of this chapter, the term—

- (a) “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Interior;
- (b) “Native” means a citizen of the United States who is a [person](#h) of one-fourth degree or more Alaska Indian (including Tsimshian Indians not enrolled in the Metlaktla[^1] Indian Community) Eskimo, or Aleut blood, or combination thereof. The term includes any Native as so defined either or both of whose adoptive parents are not Natives. It also includes, in the absence of proof of a minimum blood quantum, any citizen of the United States who is regarded as an Alaska Native by the [Native village](#c) or [Native group](#d) of which he claims to be a member and whose father or mother is (or, if deceased, was) regarded as Native by any village or group. Any decision of the [Secretary](#a) regarding eligibility for enrollment shall be final;
- (c) “Native village” means any tribe, band, clan, group, village, community, or [association](/usc/43/31b.md?p=2) in Alaska listed in sections [1610](/usc/43/1610.md) and [1615](/usc/43/1615.md) of this title, or which meets the requirements of this chapter, and which the [Secretary](#a) determines was, on the 1970 census enumeration date (as shown by the census or other evidence satisfactory to the [Secretary](#a), who shall make findings of fact in each instance), composed of twenty-five or more [Natives](#b);
- (d) “Native group” means any tribe, band, clan, village, community, or village [association](/usc/43/31b.md?p=2) of [Natives](#b) in Alaska composed of less than twenty-five [Natives](#b), who comprise a majority of the residents of the locality;
- (e) “Public lands” means all Federal lands and interests therein located in Alaska except: (1) the smallest practicable tract, as determined by the [Secretary](#a), enclosing land actually used in connection with the administration of any Federal installation, and (2) land selections of the [State](#f) of Alaska which have been patented or tentatively approved under section 6(g) of the Alaska Statehood Act, as amended (72 Stat. 341, 77 Stat. 223), or identified for selection by the [State](#f) prior to January 17, 1969;
- (f) “State” means the State of Alaska;
- (g) “Regional Corporation” means an Alaska [Native](#b) Regional Corporation established under the laws of the [State](#f) of Alaska in accordance with the provisions of this chapter;
- (h) “Person” means any individual, group, firm, corporation, [association](/usc/43/31b.md?p=2), or partnership;
- (i) “Municipal Corporation” means any general unit of municipal government under the laws of the [State](#f) of Alaska;
- (j) “Village Corporation” means an Alaska [Native Village](#c) Corporation organized under the laws of the [State](#f) of Alaska as a business for profit or nonprofit corporation to hold, invest, manage and/or distribute lands, property, [funds](#k), and other rights and [assets](/usc/43/505a.md?p=1-A) for and on behalf of a [Native village](#c) in accordance with the terms of this chapter.[^2]
- (k) “Fund” means the Alaska [Native](#b) Fund in the Treasury of the United States established by [section 1605 of this title](/usc/43/1605.md);
- (l) “Planning Commission” means the Joint Federal-[State](#f) Land Use Planning Commission established by [section 1616 of this title](/usc/43/1616.md);
- (m) “Native Corporation” means any [Regional Corporation](#g), any [Village Corporation](#j), any [Urban Corporation](#o), and any [Group Corporation](#n);
- (n) “Group Corporation” means an Alaska [Native Group](#d) Corporation organized under the laws of the [State](#f) of Alaska as a business for profit or nonprofit corporation to hold, invest, manage and/or distribute lands, property, [funds](#k), and other rights and [assets](/usc/43/505a.md?p=1-A) for and on behalf of members of a [Native group](#d) in accordance with the terms of this chapter;
- (o) “Urban Corporation” means an Alaska [Native](#b) Urban Corporation organized under the laws of the [State](#f) of Alaska as a business for profit or nonprofit corporation to hold, invest, manage and/or distribute lands, property, [funds](#k), and other rights and [assets](/usc/43/505a.md?p=1-A) for and on behalf of members of an urban community of [Natives](#b) in accordance with the terms of this chapter;
- (p) “Settlement Common Stock” means stock of a [Native Corporation](#m) issued pursuant to [section 1606(g)(1) of this title](/usc/43/1606.md?p=g-1) that carries with it the rights and restrictions listed in [section 1606(h)(1) of this title](/usc/43/1606.md?p=h-1);
- (q) “Replacement Common Stock” means stock of a [Native Corporation](#m) issued in exchange for [Settlement Common Stock](#p) pursuant to [section 1606(h)(3) of this title](/usc/43/1606.md?p=h-3);
- (r) “Descendant of a Native” means—
  - (1) a lineal [descendant of a Native](#r) or of an individual who would have been a [Native](#b) if such individual were alive on December 18, 1971, or
  - (2) an adoptee of a [Native](#b) or of a [descendant of a Native](#r), whose adoption—
    - (A) occurred prior to his or her majority, and
    - (B) is recognized at law or in equity;
- (s) “Alienability restrictions” means the restrictions imposed on [Settlement Common Stock](#p) by [section 1606(h)(1)(B) of this title](/usc/43/1606.md?p=h-1-B);
- (t) “Settlement Trust” means a trust—
  - (1) established and registered by a [Native Corporation](#m) under the laws of the [State](#f) of Alaska pursuant to a resolution of its shareholders, and
  - (2) operated for the benefit of shareholders, [Natives](#b), and descendants of [Natives](#b), in accordance with [section 1629e of this title](/usc/43/1629e.md) and the laws of the [State](#f) of Alaska.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Probably should be “Metlakatla”.
[^2]: So in original. The period probably should be a semicolon.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 92–203, § 3, Dec. 18, 1971, 85 Stat. 689; Pub. L. 96–487, title XIV, § 1401(d), Dec. 2, 1980, 94 Stat. 2492; Pub. L. 100–241, § 3, Feb. 3, 1988, 101 Stat. 1789; Pub. L. 106–194, § 3, May 2, 2000, 114 Stat. 243.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Section 6(g) of the Alaska Statehood Act, as amended, referred to in subsec. (e), 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.

### Amendments

2000—Subsec. (t)(2). Pub. L. 106–194 substituted “benefit of shareholders, Natives, and descendants of Natives,” for “sole benefit of the holders of the corporation’s Settlement Common Stock”.

1988—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 100–241, § 3(1), inserted “group,” after “individual,”.

Subsec. (k). Pub. L. 100–241, § 3(2), struck out “and” at end.

Subsec. (l). Pub. L. 100–241, § 3(3), substituted semicolon for period.

Subsec. (m). Pub. L. 100–241, § 3(4), substituted “Group Corporation;” for “Native Group.”

Subsecs. (n) to (t). Pub. L. 100–241, § 3(5), added subsecs. (n) to (t).

1980—Subsec. (m). Pub. L. 96–487 added subsec. (m).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Definitions

Pub. L. 108–452, § 2, Dec. 10, 2004, 118 Stat. 3576, provided that: “In this Act [see Short Title of 2004 Amendment note set out under section 1601 of this title]: Native allotment.—The term ‘Native allotment’ means an allotment claimed under the Act of May 17, 1906 (34 Stat. 197, chapter 2469) [former 43 U.S.C. 270–1 to 270–3]. Secretary.—The term ‘Secretary’ means the Secretary of the Interior. State.—The term ‘State’ means the State of Alaska.”