Willie Hensley

William L. "Willie" Hensley (born June 17, 1941), also known by his Iñupiaq name Iġġiaġruk, is a semi-retired Democratic politician from the U.S. state of Alaska known for his work regarding Native Alaskan land rights.

Hensley studied law at the University of Alaska (1966), University of New Mexico (1967) and University of California (1968).

In 1966, at the age of 25, Hensley was elected to a position in the House of Representatives for ten years.

Hensley went on to serve a term in the Alaska House of Representatives (1967–1970), and then a four-year term in the Alaska Senate (1971–1974).

Hensley played a critical role in the creation of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) of 1971, one of the largest and most important land claims by indigenous peoples in U.S. history.

Hensley and a handful of other Alaskan Natives tirelessly lobbied the government in Washington until 1971 when ANCSA was created and enacted.

This act, signed by President Nixon in 1971, gave Alaskan natives 44 million acres of land as well as a $963 million payment.

The land and payment received were shared between 12 regional Alaskan native corporations, one of which Hensley founded.

Hensley was first elected to the Alaskan Senate in 1971 for a four-year term.

He served on the subcommittees of water resources and of Indian affairs.

In 1974, the Alaska Congressional election of 1974 decided Alaska's sole representative to the United States House of Representatives for a two-year term, from 1975–77.

Hensley ran as the Democratic candidate, but lost to Republican candidate Don Young by 7.68 per cent

Hensley was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Alaska in 1980.

Hensley’s involvement with Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act stemmed from the publishing of his essay “What Rights to Land Have the Alaska Native:  The Primary Issue”.

The essay highlighted Indigenous history and the treatment by the United States as well the laws that governed their right to land rights.

Hensley’s paper was handed out in the first Alaskan Federation of Native convention, which he co-chaired.

Hensley also served another year in the Alaska Senate from 1987 to 1988, when he was nominated by 6th Governor of Alaska Steve Cowper.

Hensley has also had an influential career outside of politics, as founder of the Northwest Alaskan Natives Association Regional corporation (NANA), where he served as president for 20 years.

He also helped form the Alaskan Natives Federation and served as co-chairman, executive director, and president.

He also is a founder of Maniilaq, a not-for-profit organization that provides essential services for the tribes of Northwest Alaska.

Since retiring from politics, Hensley has written a book titled Fifty Miles from Tomorrow: A Memoir of Alaska and the Real People.

The book entails Hensley’s childhood growing up in rural Alaska with extended family and his journey as an Alaskan politician and native rights activist.

Hensley was born into a small community in Northwest Alaska, 40 miles above the Arctic Circle.

His father was a Jewish Lithuanian fur trader who Hensley never met, and his mother was an Inupiat Eskimo from Kotzebue.

At a young age his mother gave him and his sister Saigulik to extended family that lived along the Noatak River delta.

Hensley grew up without electricity and running water.

He and his family hunted and fished in order to survive the nine-month-long Arctic winters.

Hensley attended Bureau of Indian Affairs elementary school.

For secondary education, Hensley attended Harrison Chilhowees religious academy in Knoxville, Tennessee.

A Baptist missionary chose and arranged the details in order for Hensley to attend the boarding school.

At boarding school, Hensley was a one-time halfback and the co-caption of the school’s football team as well as being voted class president.

Graduating from his senior year Hensley chose to study at George Washington University in Washington D.C.

He obtained a bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in economics.

and was re-elected to the House in 1987 for another two years.

Hensley was a Democratic member for both terms and took special interest in native affairs.

Hensley was appointed to the Alaskan Senate for the second time on 20 January 1987 until 1988.

He was elected to fill a vacant seat due to the resignation of senator Frank Ferguson.

Hensley was one of eight Democratic candidates in the Senate and was the representative for senate district L. During his term Hensley was in the standing committees for Finance, Rules and State Affairs.

Hensley also served as Commissioner of Commerce under Alaskan Governor Tony Knowles.

In 1994, Hensley was chosen by Alaskan Governor Tony Knowles to be Commissioner of Commerce and Economic Development.