Willie Hensley

William "Willie" Hensley
William "Willie" Hensley
Iġġiaġruk
	Willie Hensley in 2013
Member of the Alaska House of Representatives; from the 17th district
	In office; January 23, 1967 – January 11, 1971
Preceded by	Jacob A. Stalker
Succeeded by	Frank R. Ferguson
Member of the Alaska Senate; from the K district; (J district 1971–1973)
	In office; January 11, 1971 – January 20, 1975
Preceded by	Robert R. Blodgett
Succeeded by	Redistricted
Member of the Alaska Senate; from the L district
	In office; January 20, 1987 – January 9, 1989
Preceded by	Frank R. Ferguson
Succeeded by	Albert P. Adams
Personal details
Born	17 June 1941 (age 82); Kotzebue, Alaska, United States
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Abigale Hensley
Children	4
Alma mater	George Washington University
Occupation	Politician, educator

William L. "Willie" Hensley (born June 17, 1941), also known by his Iñupiaq name Iġġiaġruk (IPA: [eʁʁeɑʁʐuk]), is a semi-retired Democratic politician from the U.S. state of Alaska known for his work regarding Native Alaskan land rights. 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 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).^[1] Hensley also served another year in the Alaska Senate from 1987 to 1988, when he was nominated by 6th Governor of Alaska Steve Cowper.^[2]

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.^[3] He also is a founder of Maniilaq, a not-for-profit organization that provides essential services for the tribes of Northwest Alaska.^[4]

Since retiring from politics, Hensley has written a book titled Fifty Miles from Tomorrow: A Memoir of Alaska and the Real People.^[5] 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.

^ Harrison, G.S (1973). "Notes on Alaskan Native Electoral politics". Polar Record. 16 (104): 691–700. doi:10.1017/S0032247400063634. S2CID 129919586.
^ Hensley, E (2016). "Look back to go forward.(Special Issue on the Forty-Fifth Anniversary of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act)". Alaska Law Review. 33.
^ Alaska State Legislature. (n.d.). Directory: Fifteenth Legislature 1987–1988. Juneau, Alaska. http://akleg.gov/docs/pdf/Directory/87%2088%20B%20dir.pdf
^ Dennis, Y.W (2016). Native American Almanac: More than 50,000 Years of the Cultures and Histories of Indigenous Peoples. Canton, MI: Visible Ink Press. ISBN 978-1578596072.
^ Garner, D (2009). "Growing Up and Getting by in the Land of the Nine-Month Winter". New York Times.

[:3-1] Harrison, G.S (1973). "Notes on Alaskan Native Electoral politics". Polar Record. 16 (104): 691–700. doi:10.1017/S0032247400063634. S2CID 129919586.

[:4-2] Hensley, E (2016). "Look back to go forward.(Special Issue on the Forty-Fifth Anniversary of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act)". Alaska Law Review. 33.

[:5-3] Alaska State Legislature. (n.d.). Directory: Fifteenth Legislature 1987–1988. Juneau, Alaska. http://akleg.gov/docs/pdf/Directory/87%2088%20B%20dir.pdf

[:6-4] Dennis, Y.W (2016). Native American Almanac: More than 50,000 Years of the Cultures and Histories of Indigenous Peoples. Canton, MI: Visible Ink Press. ISBN 978-1578596072.

[:0-5] Garner, D (2009). "Growing Up and Getting by in the Land of the Nine-Month Winter". New York Times.

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