[VIDEO] BLM Alaska State Director Chad Padgett reflects on AFN and Dingell Act implementation

The BLM Alaska team focused its visit to the Alaska Federation of Natives Conference this year on spreading awareness about the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (Dingell Act) and answering questions from Alaska Native Vietnam Veterans and their heirs regarding Alaska Native Vietnam era veterans land allotments. 

Find out more at: https://www.blm.gov/ak-native-vietnam-vet-land-allotment-2019.

If you couldn’t make it to the Alaska Federation of Natives Conference in Fairbanks this year, here’s a recap on how we are carrying out our responsibilities for qualifying Alaska Native Vietnam Veterans to apply for allotments of up to 160 acres of land.

We started our time at AFN meeting with Alaska Native Vietnam Veterans, their heirs, families, and friends. We worked with staff from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Veterans Affairs to answer as many questions as we could. And we heard great feedback from folks in attendance on our first night in Fairbanks.

Our land management experts joined me and other members of BLM Alaska, the VA, the BIA and even some Native Corporation staff at our booth throughout the conference for conversation and questions, and catching up with old friends -- my favorite part of AFN.

Thanks to the hard work of Alaska’s congressional delegation, this piece of legislation was passed. Senator Dan Sullivan and I co-hosted an information session to close out AFN.  It was another great opportunity to hear your concerns, issues you had with past allotment efforts, and hopes for the future.  We anticipate letters being sent to qualifying individuals in early 2020.  Don’t worry if you don’t receive a letter; there will be ways to inform us of your qualifications.

Moving forward, we want to hear your questions, concerns, or expected challenges. At the bottom of this video are links to different ways you can contact us, or get more information, or read in depth about the Dingell Act.

Again, thanks for taking the time to watch this video and I look forward to many more dialogues in the future.

Find out more at: https://www.blm.gov/ak-native-vietnam-vet-land-allotment-2019