Alaska Native Vietnam-era Veterans can officially claim allotted land

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - An announcement during American Indian & Alaska Native Heritage Month and week shy of Veterans Day 2021 honors some Alaskan veterans. According to a Press Release distributed on November 4th, “The Department of the Interior announced that the Bureau of Land Management, (BLM) has finalized a program allowing Alaska Native Vietnam-era Veterans” to claim territory.

Eligible Alaska Native veterans that served between August 5, 1964 and December 31, 1971 now have the opportunity to select an allotment of land. The land sizes range between 2.5 and 160 acres, coming from vacant, unappropriated, and unreserved federal lands in Alaska. According to the Department of the Interior. “Lands can also be selected by state or by native corporations, if that entity agrees to relinquish that portion of their selection.”

Deb Haaland, the First Native American Secretary of the Interior, stated, “We have a sacred obligation to America’s veterans. I know the sacrifices made by those who serve in our military, and we are committed to ensuring the rights of our Alaska Native Vietnam-era Veterans”. Haaland has expressed in the past that her father served during the Vietnam War.

Those that may be eligible also include those that have not received their native allotment or an heir to someone who meets the eligibility requirements.

Selecting the land allotments are available through December 29th, 2025.

More information can be found on the BLM.gov website; a direct link to the page to download the eligibility application can be found here.