Thesis statement:

While ANCSA and the Native corporation system have had some positive impacts on Alaska Natives, they have also had significant negative consequences.

Supporting examples:

Positive impacts:

• ANCSA provided Alaska Natives with a significant financial settlement, which helped to improve their economic well-being.
• The Native corporation system has created jobs and opportunities for Alaska Natives.
• ANCSA has helped to preserve Alaska Native culture and traditions.

Negative impacts:

• ANCSA led to the extinguishment of Alaska Native aboriginal land title.
• The Native corporation system has been plagued by corruption and mismanagement.
• ANCSA has contributed to social and economic inequality among Alaska Natives.

Complexity of the issue:

The passage of ANCSA was contingent on at least three historical events or forces:

1. The discovery of oil in Alaska in the 1960s led to a boom in development and a growing awareness of the need to address Alaska Native land claims.
2. The rise of the Alaska Native civil rights movement in the 1960s and 1970s gave Alaska Natives a powerful voice to advocate for their rights.
3. The political will to address Alaska Native land claims was heightened by the need to build the Trans-Alaska Pipeline.

The passage of ANCSA was a complex and controversial process. Some Alaska Natives supported the bill, while others opposed it. The bill was also opposed by some white Alaskans and environmental groups.

Revised thesis statement:

ANCSA and the Native corporation system have had a mixed impact on Alaska Natives. While they have provided some economic and cultural benefits, they have also led to the extinguishment of Alaska Native aboriginal land title, contributed to social and economic inequality, and been plagued by corruption and mismanagement.

How the revised thesis statement shows the complexity of the event:

The revised thesis statement acknowledges the both positive and negative impacts of ANCSA and the Native corporation system on Alaska Natives. It also highlights the complexity of the issue by mentioning the extinguishment of Alaska Native aboriginal land title, social and economic inequality, and corruption and mismanagement.

How to further develop the statement or the supporting examples:

The revised thesis statement could be further developed by providing more specific examples of the positive and negative impacts of ANCSA and the Native corporation system. For example, the statement could mention the fact that ANCSA helped to establish a number of successful Alaska Native businesses, but that it also led to the loss of traditional subsistence hunting and fishing grounds. The statement could also mention the fact that the Native corporation system has created jobs and opportunities for Alaska Natives, but that it has also been plagued by high turnover rates and low wages.

Response to peer’s statement:

Thesis statement:

ANCSA and the Native corporation system have been a mixed bag for Alaska Natives. They have provided some economic benefits, but they have also led to the loss of traditional lands and culture.

Analysis:

I think this thesis statement does a good job of showing the complexity of the issue. It acknowledges both the positive and negative impacts of ANCSA and the Native corporation system on Alaska Natives. The statement could be further developed by providing more specific examples of the positive and negative impacts. For example, the statement could mention the fact that ANCSA helped to establish a number of successful Alaska Native businesses, but that it also led to the loss of traditional subsistence hunting and fishing grounds. The statement could also mention the fact that the Native corporation system has created jobs and opportunities for Alaska Natives, but that it has also been plagued by high turnover rates and low wages.

Suggestion:

One way to further develop this thesis statement would be to add a sentence or two about the historical context of ANCSA and the Native corporation system. This would help to explain why the system was created and how it has evolved over time. For example, the statement could mention the fact that ANCSA was passed in 1971 in response to the Alaska Native civil rights movement and the need to address Alaska Native land claims. The statement could also mention the fact that the Native corporation system has been criticized for its lack of transparency and accountability.

Overall thoughts:

The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) and the Native corporation system are complex and controversial issues. There is no easy answer to the question of whether they have been good or bad for Alaska Natives. Both the positive and negative impacts of ANCSA and the Native corporation system are worth considering, as is the historical context in which they were created.