About Us / Our History

Our History

From the passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act in 1971 to today: five decades of caring for Northway's people and land.

The Beginning

Northway Natives, Inc. was established for the village of Northway under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA), passed on December 18, 1971. NNI became official on July 1, 1973, when its Articles of Incorporation were approved by the State of Alaska.

On January 4, 1974, an interim board was established, and the first shareholders' meeting was held on February 9, 1974. The 206 original shareholder enrollees were the residents of Northway with one-quarter or more Alaska Native blood as of December 1971. That number has since grown to over 260 as shares passed through inheritance and gifting, as allowed by ANCSA.

Our First Directors
Kenneth P. Albert Jane Glazier (Fix) Harry Sam Lorraine Albert (Titus) Gary Thomas
The Land

“ANCSA was all about the land and being able to use it as our people have done for a millennium.”

Besides its shareholders, the land is the most important consideration for NNI. The existence of the Upper Tanana Dine’ and our cultural practices are tied to the land. Our connection to it is cultural, survival related, and spiritual.

Selecting Our Lands

NNI's land selections under ANCSA were started and completed in 1974 by a Lands Committee of Jane Fix, Della Northway, and James Gallen. The areas selected by the committee and approved by the board were chosen for their location, subsistence and traditional use, and highway frontage for business development.

The townships chosen for NNI extend along both sides of the Alaska Highway, from about milepost 1250 near Deadman Lake to milepost 1286 near Midway Lake. In some places they stretch less than a mile from the highway; in others, up to about 20 miles out into the valley surrounding the village and airport.

Subsurface and mineral resources under NNI lands are owned by Doyon, Limited, the regional ANCSA corporation for the Interior Alaska villages.

Aerial view of lakes and boreal forest in the Upper Tanana valley
115,200 Acres allotted under ANCSA
36 Miles of Alaska Highway, MP 1250–1286

Since 1974, NNI has grown its holdings: an 18-acre parcel at Mile 1263 of the Alaska Highway, surface and subsurface, purchased in 2000 with a vision of cultural tourism and cultural preservation; and a 3.5-acre highway-frontage lot in Tok, purchased in 2016 for business expansion.

Land for Our Community

Over the years, NNI has contributed land to meet the needs of the Northway community and help it grow.

Chisana View Subdivision

In the mid-1980s, NNI developed and subdivided approximately 39 acres along the Northway Road between the Alaska Highway and the Chisana River. The tracts were sold to individuals, many of whom built homes and live there today.

Chisana River Subdivision

In 2005, 40 acres at milepost 1263 were quitclaimed to the Northway Village Council to support housing construction and meet the local need for homes.

Community Services

Land quitclaimed to the Northway tribal entity for the village clinic and washeteria, the dump, and the sewage lagoon, plus a 2-acre parcel at Northway Junction for the new community clinic built in 2024.

Spruce trees reflected in a still lake
Milestones
1971

ANCSA Becomes Law

The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act is passed on December 18, 1971.

1973

NNI Is Incorporated

The State of Alaska approves NNI's Articles of Incorporation on July 1, 1973.

1974

First Board, First Meeting, First Lands

An interim board is established on January 4, the first shareholders' meeting is held on February 9, and land selections are started and completed.

1979

Naabia Niign, Ltd. Is Founded

NNI's sister corporation is established to create subsidiary businesses, including a convenience store and gas service, gift shop, and liquor store.

1980s

Growth and Community Land

The Chisana View Subdivision is developed in the mid-1980s, and NNI takes on road construction subcontracts in 1986 and 1987.

1988

The 1991 ANCSA Amendments

Signed into law in February 1988, the amendments let shareholders gift stock to eligible descendants, extended voting rights to heirs regardless of blood quantum, and allowed ANCSA corporations to create settlement trusts.

2000

Mile 1263 Parcel

NNI purchases the surface and subsurface of an 18-acre parcel at Mile 1263 of the Alaska Highway, with cultural tourism and preservation in mind.

2005

Chisana River Subdivision

40 acres at milepost 1263 are quitclaimed to the Northway Village Council for housing.

2010

Naabia Transportation

The school bus service contract with the Alaska Gateway School District is secured, serving students of Walter Northway School.

2016

Tok Property

A 3.5-acre lot of highway frontage is purchased in Tok, Alaska, with plans for business expansion.

2019

NNI Settlement Trust

Shareholders unanimously approve the Settlement Trust at a special meeting on November 30, 2019. Established in a matter of months, it is funded with $200,000 of NNI's investment portfolio. It has since grown to just over $316,000.

2020

Tl'oh Suu

The Tl'oh Suu business affiliation is established.

2022

Store Upgrades and the 14(c) Process

Naabia Niign installs a new POS system and card-lock gas dispensers, and a board committee takes up the 14(c) process again.

2023

Revised Bylaws

Shareholders approve revised Bylaws for both Northway Natives, Inc. and Naabia Niign, Ltd.

2024

New Community Clinic

A new community clinic is built on a 2-acre parcel at Northway Junction deeded by NNI to the Northway tribal entity.

2026

New Bus Hangar

Construction is completed on a hangar for Naabia Transportation's fleet of three school buses.

Where We're Headed

See our current operations, our strategic plans, and the goals we're working toward for future shareholders.

About NNI →