Tribal leaders discuss placing lands into trust during opening day discussions for Leaders Summit

Placing lands into trust is a way for Alaska Native tribes to permanently protect them, but it’s not the only means of exercising control. That was the message during opening day discussions Monday at a Tribal Leaders Summit in Fairbanks. Washington DC based Native American rights attorney, Lael Echo-Hawk said placing tribal lands into trust with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, an option that re-opened to Alaska tribes this summer following a lengthy court battle, carries definite advantages