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
(1941-06-17) 17 June 1941 (age 83) 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.
^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.
^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.
William L. "Willie" Hensley (born June 17, 1941), also known by his Iñupiaq name Iġġiaġruk (IPA: [eʁʁeɑʁʐuk]), is a semi-retired Democratic politician...
Patsy Cline (born Virginia Patterson Hensley; September 8, 1932 – March 5, 1963) was an American singer from the state of Virginia. She is considered...
Senator Hensley may refer to: Anthony Hensley (born 1953), Kansas State Senate Joey Hensley (born 1955), Tennessee State Senate WillieHensley (born 1941)...
Clifford J. Groh Republican Anchorage H Jay S. Hammond Republican Naknek J WillieHensley Democratic Kotzebue E Joseph P. Josephson Democratic Anchorage D Jan...
Clifford J. Groh Republican Anchorage E Jess Harris Republican Anchorage K WillieHensley Democratic Kotzebue H George H. Hohman, Jr. Democratic Bethel D Jalmar...
1971, with the support of Alaska Native leaders such as Emil Notti, WillieHensley, and Byron Mallott, the U.S. Congress passed the Alaska Native Claims...
hockey player Susan Henrichs, oceanographer and university provost WillieHensley, matriculate, Alaska Native leader and one of the chief activists for...
Notti Among the appointees were politicians Raymond C. Christiansen, WillieHensley, Carl E. Moses, John C. Sackett, and Jules Wright. Indigenous members...
William Paden Hensley (July 24, 1906 or 1909 – August 24, 1991), known as Washboard Willie, was an American Detroit blues musician, who specialised in...
Party Independence Democratic Republican Running mate Jack Coghill WillieHensley Jim Campbell Popular vote 75,721 60,201 50,991 Percentage 38.88% 30...
Hebard 1998 living Fairbanks WNBA basketball player with the Chicago Sky WillieHensley 1941 living Kotzebue, Anchorage advocate for Alaska Native rights Herman...
Casey Hensley is an American female blues, swing, and rock and roll singer, songwriter and record producer. To date, Hensley has released two albums including...
(2018-present) Susan Bayro (Osage Nation), mayor of Pawhuska (2024-present) Willie Grayeyes, Navajo Democrat (San Juan County, UT Commission Kenneth Maryboy...
election over ex-Anchorage Mayor, Democrat Tony Knowles and state Senator WillieHensley, with Republican state Senator Arliss Sturgulewski finishing third....
he ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. House, losing to Alaska Native WillieHensley in the Democratic primary. Ten years after that loss, he finished second...
Orbeck Democratic Fairbanks Donald E. Young Republican Fort Yukon 17 WillieHensley Democratic Kotzebue 18 Lester Bronson Democratic Nome 19 Moses Paukan...
of Representatives 1993–1994 Succeeded by Jerry Mackie Preceded by WillieHensley Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Alaska 1994, 1998 Succeeded by...
minute of the period, (Joe) Perry fumbled and (Dick) Hensley recovered on the 49ers' 16. Willie Thrower, former Michigan State Negro quarterback star...
E THE DUO (2023) John Deere Tractor - Molly Tuttle & Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley (2023) Young Love - Jamey Johnson & Ella Langley (2023) Life Is Like A...
selected by the Yankees in the third round, and signed on July 6. Chuck Hensley was selected by the Yankees in the tenth round. Chris Welsh was selected...
term in 1974 with 51,641 votes (53.84%) to Democratic State Senator WillieHensley's 44,280 (46.16%). He was sworn into the House of Representatives on...
Bradford" Dianne Kay), Nick Thiel and David Braff, J. Miyoko Hensley and Steven Hensley, Bruce Shelly, Sandra Kay Siegel, Gil Grant, Karen I. Hall, and...
original version of The Little Shop of Horrors (1960), as well as Charlene Hensley in Hogan's Heroes (1966), Sheila Futterman in Gremlins (1984) and Gremlins...