As one in a series of eight articles written by different professionals concerned with Alaska Native land claims, this article focuses on potential economic development of local and regional areas via Native management of funds derived from the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. Designed to stimulate careful political/historical reading and discussion at an advanced secondary or adult level, this booklet presents a vocabulary list which includes such terms as: paternalism, financial institutions, revenue producing lands, etc. Among the major issues presented in the text are: (1) the economic responsibility inherent in the size of the Native Settlement (40 million acres of land to be selected by Native villages and regional organizations and $967,500,000 to be distributed to regional organizations within 10 years); (2) the pressures which brought about extreme positions regarding the organizational structure that could best manage lands and funds (statewide corporations vs. regional or village control); (3) the organizational structure provided under the Settlement Act (essentially a philosophy advocating village preservation via guaranteed lands and funds in conjunction with guidance from regional corporations); (4) future provision for a centralized structure comparable to the Alaska Federation of Natives to prevent financial waste and promote centralized investments. (JC)