1/ Healthy debate is a good thing, I just hope people will at least make an attempt to understand the concept of Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs) before passing judgment and spreading misinformation. Please consider the following: #NativeTwitter #NativeCorporations #CARES

2/ ANCs were established in 1971 by the fed government. #AlaskaNative people were given corporation shares instead of reservations (w/ the exception of one). At this time, AK Tribes were NOT recognized by the government. Corporations were meant to TAKE THE PLACE of Tribes. (Cont)

3/ It was these corporations that were given the authority to oversee healthcare, etc. Our CDIBs are tied to these corporations- to get a CDIB, you have to either be an original shareholder, or a descendant of a shareholder. CDIBs are NOT tied to Tribal enrollment. (Cont).

4/ Alaska Tribes were not federally recognized until 1994. Prior to 1994, being a shareholder in a corporation is what made us Native! This was NOT our choice. As Alaska Native attorney @ukudigada has said, it was a government experiment designed to FAIL & ERASE US. (Cont).

5/ There are Alaska Natives who are ONLY shareholders or shareholder descendants- who are NOT enrolled/don't qualify for enrollment in a Tribe, yet are still Native. The ONLY way for them to receive compensation for land theft and wrongs incurred is through their corp. (Cont).

6/ When you condemn AK Native corporations, you're condemning actual Natives who NEED them. This system was NOT our choice. Now, for the "benefits" of being a shareholder- it's NOT what you may think. (Cont).

7/ #AlaskaNative corporations are unlike other corps. The shares CANNOT be sold or traded. The shares are LIMITED. Each original shareholder in 1971 got 100 shares. There are no more shares. The ONLY way I got shares was because my mother DIED & they were passed to me. (Cont)

8/ Alaska Native corporations are not brimming with extra money- one even went defunct (The Thirteenth Corporation), because again, they were MEANT TO FAIL and ERASE US. This year, my Corp is paying $8 per share. This means I get $800 total, for a whole year. That's it. (Cont)

9/ So, at $800 for a year, I'm FAR from getting rich. I do NOT receive any money from my Tribe. The government set us up to fail, my mother died 3 days after being found in a burning car, and I get $800. Now lower 48 wants to lash out over that?!?! (Cont)

10/ I get that the word "corporation" causes confusion. Alaska Natives have supported lower 48 Nations continously. Why is it too much to ask that lower 48 actually make an attempt to understand something before denigrating our people, or the situation FORCED onto us? (Cont)

11/ When you condemn without knowing the facts, YOU are contributing the erasure the colonial government attempted to cause. YOU are aiding and abetting the federal government in causing INDIGENOUS ERASURE. (Cont).

12/ Again, respectful debate is a good thing. But, please, stop spreading misinformation without knowing the FACTS. Please stand by us the way we have stood by YOU. Please- stop helping the settler government by contributing to our failure and erasure! #NativeTwitter

Btw- this is the back of my CDIB. As you can see, our CORPORATIONS are what gave us Native status in the eyes of the colonial Federal government.