The point of the Op/ed is in part, is exactly what you have maintained that the Sealaska Corp attorney said. The op/ed agrees with the Judge's decision on the access but is making a case regarding how a big Corp (that lost its case) sued for attorney fees for case that they had not been named in. The sentence you cite can be seen as a "message" that if you mess with us, we will go all out to crush you. This is significant because of the many shareholders who have alleged wrong doing by their Corporation. Few, if any shareholders have been able to afford to take on the Corp and this case (award of attorney fees) is sure to silence more then a few folks from trying to address the concerns and problems they feel are wrong. 
Funny that Sealaska would suddenly care about something that affected their shareholders. Couldn't figure it out until I re-read the part about the other action that they lost on the land they claimed. 
Confusing. This got turned into a racial, bigot issue, it's not.