About CIRI

Our Roots

The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) was a new approach by Congress to federal Indian policy. ANCSA extinguished aboriginal land title in Alaska and divided the state into 12 distinct regions and mandated the creation of 12 land-based, private, for-profit Alaska Native regional corporations, including CIRI. ANCSA also mandated that both regional and village corporations be owned by enrolled Alaska Native shareholders. With its foundation in Alaska Native corporate ownership, ANCSA was a departure from the Lower 48 reservation system.

Since 1971, ANCSA, through Alaska Native corporations and designated Tribal organizations, has empowered Alaska Native people by promoting health and wellness, instilling and strengthening culture and heritage, aiding economic growth, respecting Alaska Native values, and balancing the needs of current and future generations of shareholders.

Our History

Cook Inlet Region, Inc. (CIRI) is an Alaska Native regional corporation created pursuant to ANCSA. CIRI was incorporated June 8, 1972, as a for-profit corporation to benefit Alaska Native people with ties to the Cook Inlet region. CIRI’s Shareholders represent virtually every Alaska Native ethnic group, including Athabascan, Southeast Indian, Inupiat, Cup’ik/Yup’ik, Alutiiq/Sugpiaq and Aleut/Unangax.

CIRI started business with entitlements to select lands in the Cook Inlet region that were largely on top of mountains or under glaciers, in addition to $78 million in seed capital. CIRI leaders, unwilling to settle for less than ANCSA required, began discussions with state and federal government officials to negotiate the complex Cook Inlet Land Exchange, which was signed into law in its clarified form in 1976.

CIRI used the terms and conditions of the Cook Inlet Land Exchange and subsequent agreements to select resource-rich and commercially valuable lands that the corporation used to generate revenue to pay distributions to Shareholders and to reinvest for future income. Over time, CIRI’s Board of Directors and executive team successfully managed CIRI and its assets to balance the needs of current and future generations of Shareholders and Descendants.

CIRI endeavors to be a strong and thriving force in the lives of our Shareholders and Descendants, and CIRI’s continued success relies on the involvement of all stakeholders, across geographies and generations.

Our Region

There are seven ANCSA-designated villages in the CIRI region: Chickaloon, Eklutna, Knik, Ninilchik, Salamatof, Seldovia and Tyonek.

The geographic boundary of the CIRI region closely approximates the traditional homeland of the Dena’ina Athabascan people. Within CIRI’s regional boundary are villages and group sites recognized under ANCSA. In addition, within the regional boundary is the municipality of Anchorage, Alaska’s largest urban center. Anchorage is often referred to colloquially as Alaska’s largest Native “village” due to the large number of Alaska Native people who live within the municipal boundaries.