Land Use Policy

OHNC shareholders own much of the land around the village of Old Harbor, including Sitkalidak Island. Those wishing to hunt on OHNC land must first apply, meeting the terms and pay a fee to the corporation.

Those wishing to do sport fishing, hunting or sightseeing must apply for the Deer and Fish Land Use License.
Those wishing to camp, must apply for the Camping Land Use License.
Those wishing to be transported by a local for non-guided bear hunting must apply for the Bear Hunting Land Use License.
Those wishing to be authorized to provide transportation and/or guide services on OHNC land must have a current signed license agreement with OHNC.

The Old Harbor Native Corporation Settlement Trust Board of Directors has adopted an Final Land Use Plan governing the land owned by the Corporation around Old Harbor.

The following is a summary of the Land Use Policy.

Land Use Permits are required for non-shareholders to use Corporate land for hunting, fishing, berry-picking, camping, site-seeing, etc.

Under the Land Use Plan, the following rules apply to when a Land Use Permit is needed.

Land Use Permit Not Needed:

Shareholders, Descendants, or Spouses of Shareholders or Descendants that are using Corporate land for non-commercial uses

Land Use Permit Needed But Do Not Need to Pay The Fee:

If a User is an Alaska Native who is both (i) a shareholder of Koniag, Inc. or an Alaska Village Corporation located within the Koniag Region, and (ii) accompanied by a Shareholder, Spouse, or Descendant, that User must obtain a Land Use Permit but shall not be required to pay any fee for that Land Use Permit.

Land Use Permit Needed and Must Pay Fees:

All non-Alaska Natives
All commercial users (i.e. hunts, fishing, etc.)
Bear Hunting Land Use Permit Fee: $2000 (Permits the taking of one bear and one deer on Sitkalidak Island Only)
Deer Hunting Land Use Permit Fee: $150 (Permits the taking of two Deer per season)
Fishing Land Use Permit Fee: $150 (Legal Limit per day)
Camping/Sight-Seeing Land Use Permit Fee: $150 (Camping and Sight-Seeing only; no hunting. Catch and release fishing only)
Archaeological/Education Land Use Permit Fee: $0 - Fee is waived

All fees go to benefit the Old Harbor Scholarship Foundation.
Land Use Permits are only needed if Corporation land is being used. They are not required for fishing trips where there is no landing on Corporation land.

Licensed Guided & Transporters

In addition to having to obtain a Land Use Permit, individuals on commercial hunting and/or fishing trips that are using Corporate land must also use only those guides/transporters who are on the Corporation’s Licensed Guide/Transporter List.

A Land Use Permit will not be issued to someone on a commercial hunting and/or fishing trip if they are not using a guide or transporter that is on the Corporation’s Licensed Guide/Transporter List.

To be on the Corporation’s Licensed Guide/Transporter List, a guide/transporter must meet all of the following requirements:

Be a Shareholder or a Descendant or Spouse of a Shareholder that lives in Old Harbor for six months out of the year
Have the necessary permits from all appropriate federal and/or state agencies
Have liability insurance in the amount required by law and name the Corporation as an additional insured on those policies
Fully comply with all requirements of the Interim Land Use Policy
There is no fee to be added to the Corporation’s Licensed Guide/Transporter List.

If you are interested in being placed on the Corporation’s Licensed Guide/Transporter List, please contact the Corporation. We are interested in hearing from those who are impacted by the land use policy, especially from Shareholders and Descendants who are licensed guides or transporters. Please submit your comments via mail to our office or email info@oldharbor.org.

Cabins

The three cabins owned by the Corporation on Sitkalidak Island are available for use by Shareholders and Descendants only. There is no fee for a Shareholder or Descendant to use the cabins. Everyone using the cabins, however, must sign in with the Corporation’s office and sign a waiver. The cabins cannot be used for commercial purposes (i.e. on a guided hunt, for example).

Please contact the Old Harbor Office at 907.286.2286 with any questions or to submit your land use permit and associated fees.

Old Harbor Native Corporation
Box 71 Old Harbor, AK 99643
Phone: (907) 286-2286
Fax: (907) 286-2876
Toll Free: (877) 986-2286