Plain-English summary
Court rules Alaska Native Corporations qualify as 'Indian tribes' and can get CARES Act tribal funds
The Supreme Court held that Alaska Native Corporations count as “Indian tribes” under the Indian Self‑Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDA), so they qualify as "Tribal governments" for CARES Act relief. The Court reversed the D.C. Circuit and remanded the cases.
Why this matters
The ruling determines who can get billions in federal COVID‑19 relief for Native communities. It clarifies that Congress’s cross‑references to other federal statutes can bring entities like Alaska Native Corporations within a program’s scope, affecting how relief and future federal funds are distributed to Native entities.
Who may feel it
- Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs)
- Federally recognized Indian tribes and tribal governments
- Recipients of CARES Act tribal funds
- Federal agencies that administer tribal funding
- Native communities and shareholders served by ANCs
Key questions
- Does the term “Tribal governments” in the CARES Act include entities defined as “Indian tribe” under the Indian Self‑Determination and Education Assistance Act?
- Are Alaska Native Corporations covered by the statutory definition of “Indian tribe” used by the CARES Act to allocate tribal relief funds?