Overview
The Alaska Region encompasses 663,268 square miles of land, an area that would stretch from Atlanta, Georgia in the east to San Francisco, California in the west and to Minneapolis, Minnesota in the north. Within Alaska are a dynamic and diverse mix of Tribes, Tribal organizations and natural features. The entire state of Alaska falls under the jurisdiction of the Alaska Region, with the small exception of the Annette Island Reserve, which falls under the Northwest Region. More than 180,000 Tribal members make up the 228 Federally Recognized Tribes under the jurisdiction of the Alaska Regional Office - from Ketchikan in the Southeast Panhandle to Barrow on the Arctic Ocean and from Eagle on the Yukon Territory border to Atka in the Aleutian Chain.
Regional Director - Ms. Jolene John
The Regional Director represents the Alaska Region in dealing with other Federal Agencies as well as tribal governments and tribal organizations. The Regional Director also serves as the official with the delegated authority to work to strengthen tribal government and self- determination for all 228 Federally recognized tribes under the jurisdiction of the Alaska Regional Office. Working directly under the Regional Director are the Deputy Regional Director of Native Services and the Deputy Regional Director of Trust Services.
Native Services - Ms. Michelle Watchman
The Deputy Regional Director for Native Services serves as the designated official for maintaining and discharging the duties and obligations of the Secretary of the Interior through public law and policy concerning community services, including Budget, Enrollment, Human Services, Housing, Property, Safety, Self Determination, Tribal Operations, and Transportation. Additionally, the Deputy Regional Director of Native Services oversees the Alaska Resupply Center located in Seattle, Washington which is responsible for the purchasing, warehousing, and shipment of commodities and fuels to certain Alaska villages, schools, cooperatives, and individuals where alternate freight services are not available.
Trust Services - Mr. Lynn Polacca
The Deputy Regional Director of Trust Services serves as the designated official for maintaining and discharging the Trust responsibility of the Secretary of the Interior for all individually allotted lands issued under the 1906 Alaska Native Allotment Act and the 1926 Alaska Native Townsite Act. The position works closely with the Fiduciary Trust Officer (FTO) from the Bureau of Trust Funds Administration (BTFA) formally known as the Office of Special Trustee (OST) to administer trust asset management activities within the region. The Deputy Regional Director of Trust Services also works closely with tribal governments and tribal organizations to provide long-range program planning, budgeting, management and technical and administrative supervision of Trust offices. The position is also responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Trust offices, which include the Land Title and Records Office (LTRO), Natural Resources, Probate, Realty, Rights Protection, DECRM, Archeology, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) Department, and Subsistence.
Notices:
Notice to Employees Posted by Order of the U.S. Department of the Interior
This Notice is posted pursuant to an Order by the United States Department of the Interior (DOI),
dated August 30, 2023, which found that a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,
as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq., has occurred at the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau
of Indian Affairs (BIA), Alaska Regional Office, in Anchorage, Alaska (Facility).
For information regarding Cobell Indian Trust Settlement checks visit IndianTrust.com
Or call 1-800-961-6109
Also, see Frequently Asked Questions about Cobell Settlement Payments
