Alaska: A Story Still Being Written with Willie Hensley
Willie Hensley
Thursday, November 5, 2026 | 7:00 PM | UAA Recital Hall
From a traditional Iñupiaq childhood in northwest Alaska to the halls of the Alaska Legislature and the negotiations that led to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, Willie Hensley has witnessed (and helped shape) one of the most remarkable periods of change in Alaska's history.
In this deeply personal presentation, Hensley reflects on the people, cultures, events, and decisions that have shaped modern Alaska. Through stories drawn from his own extraordinary life, he explores the enduring strength of Alaska Native traditions, the impact of statehood and resource development, and the opportunities and challenges facing the state's future. More than a history lesson, this is an invitation to experience Alaska through the eyes of one of its most respected leaders and storytellers.
About Willie Hensley
William Iggiagruk Hensley was born in Kotzebue, Alaska, in 1941 and raised in the Noatak River area, where his large family lived in sod homes in the winter and tents in the summer. They lived a traditional Inupiaq life, as his ancestors had done for thousands of years.
Since there were no high schools in rural Alaska, Willie attended Chilhowee Academy in Tennessee, graduating in 1960. He then attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). Following a minus 60-degree winter there, he transferred to George Washington University and graduated with a BA degree in Political Science in 1966.
Back at UAF, Willie wrote a research paper titled “Alaska Native Land Claims: The Primary Issue,” which challenged the right of Congress to convey over 100 million acres to the new state of Alaska—claiming that Alaska Natives still held aboriginal title to all of Alaska. After a five-year battle, Congress passed the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) in 1971, conveying 40 million acres and nearly $1 billion to Alaska Natives. It is the last and largest settlement with America’s indigenous population.
Willie served for 20 years as director and eventually President of NANA Regional Corporation, created as a result of ANCSA. He was a founder of the Alaska Federation of Natives and served in leadership roles. Willie served in the Alaska House of Representatives and State Senate and later as Alaska Commissioner of Commerce. He spent ten years as Manager of Federal Government Relations for the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company in Washington, DC. In 2025, Willie was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Willie taught at the University of Alaska Anchorage as a Distinguished Visiting Professor of Business and Public Policy for ten years following his retirement. He is currently Chair of the Board of the First Alaskans Institute, a research and cultural non-profit serving the Alaska Native community.