[Pontiac]

First of all, “national parks” are an unconstitutional federal land-grab from the states, regardless of how benign or benevolent such act may seem at the time. The only valid federal ownership of state land is described in Article I, Section 8, Clause 17 of the U.S. Constitution which says:

Well I once thought the same thing but the legislature and people of Alaska gave up those rights in 1958.

Alaska Statehood Act - July 7, 1958

SEC. 4.

As a compact with the United States said State and its people do agree and declare that they forever disclaim all right and title to any lands or other property not granted or confirmed to the State or its political subdivisions by or under the authority of this Act, the right or title to which is held by the United States or is sub ject to disposition by the United States, and to any lands or other property, (including fishing rights), the right or title to which may be held by any Indians, Eskimos, or Aleuts (hereinafter called natives) or is held by the United States in trust for said natives; that all such lands or other property, belonging to the United States or which may belong to said natives, shall be and remain under the absolute juris diction and control of the United States until disposed of under its authority, except to such extent as the Congress has prescribed or may hereafter prescribe, and except when held by individual natives in fee without restrictions on alienation:
Provided, That nothing contained in this act shall recognize, deny, enlarge, impair, or otherwise affect any claim against the United States, and any such claim shall be governed by the laws of the United States applicable thereto; and nothing in this Act is intended or shall be construed as a finding, interpretation, or construction by the Congress that any law applicable thereto authorizes, establishes, recognizes, or confirms the validity or invalidity of any such claim, and the determination of the applicability or effect of any law to any such claim shall be unaffected by anything in this Act: ,
And provided further That no taxes shall be imposed by said State upon any lands or other property now owned or hereafter acquired by the United States or which, as hereinabove set forth, may belong to said natives, except to such extent as the Congress has prescribed or may hereafter prescribe, and except when held by individual natives in fee without restrictions on alienation.

[Jim W N]

Do you know the history of this Alaskan act and it’s acquiescence to the feds?

Regardless, the feds have no constitutional power over state land and over Denali. The only way the feds could have had a valid constitutional claim on Denali would be if Denali never became part of Alaska because the feds have valid control over the land of its territories (Art IV, Sec 3, Cl 2).

Since Denali is part of the state, this offer is invalid, whether part of the statehood deal or not. The feds must refuse Alaska’s offer since the feds have no constitutional authority to accept and if just payment is due the feds to amend the original compact, so be it.