How can Incorporation work as a Pathway to Sovereignty for Non-Federally Recognized Tribes?
In a recent enlightening conversation with Rico Lanáat’ Worl, founder of Trickster Company, we explored the transformative potential of incorporation for non-federally recognized tribes. Our focus was on how the Alaskan Native Corporations have successfully navigated the complexities of sovereignty and how we, members of the Borikua Taino community, can adapt these strategies to further our own liberation movement.
Rico shared fascinating insights into the history and legal precedents set by Alaskan Native tribes. Post-contact Alaska saw various Western powers, mainly the US and Russia, vying for control. Unlike the aggressive colonization strategies seen elsewhere, the Russians followed Tlingit law while in Alaska, recognizing the sovereignty of local tribes to some extent. This unique approach laid the groundwork for future legal battles.
When the US purchased Alaska from Russia, a crucial clause in the treaty required recognition of local tribes. Initial attempts by the tribes to gain acknowledgment from the US government were largely ignored. However, the discovery of oil in the late 1960s changed everything. The necessity to build a pipeline and access oil reserves meant settling land disputes with local tribes. This led to the landmark Alaskan Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971, establishing 13 regional Native corporations that manage land and economic interests on behalf of their people. These corporations have become a powerful model of how incorporation can compel recognition and provide economic leverage, balancing for-profit and non-profit activities to support community needs. We asked ourselves if we could apply Alaskan strategies to Borikua Liberation.
For the Borikua Taino community, the struggle for recognition and sovereignty is strikingly similar to the Alaskan Natives’ experiences. Incorporating as a formal entity offers a structured approach to reclaiming and managing land, protecting cultural needs, and building economic independence, an important step for a nation strangled by national debt ($37 Billion as of 2023, reduced from over $billion in 2022).
The incorporation model offers a clear pathway to economic and political sovereignty, leveraging both traditional knowledge and modern legal frameworks. Many of us feel that by adopting a dual structure of for-profit and non-profit entities, we can address our immediate needs while laying the groundwork for long-term sustainability and sovereignty. This approach can adapt to the unique context of Boriken movement toward a self-determined future for the Borikua Taino community.
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