In October 2024, the Alaska Native Justice Center (ANJC) hosted its second Inter-Tribal Technical Assistance Working Group (ITWG) meeting welcoming 36 Alaska Tribes to Anchorage. The unprecedented turnout—98 participants including tribal leaders, justice personnel, and senior state and federal officials—signals a transformative moment in Alaska tribal justice.
The ITWG serves as a forum, bringing together Alaska Tribes to collectively strengthen safety and justice in tribal communities, with particular focus on preparing for the exercise of Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction (STCJ). This mission gained new urgency following the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2022 (VAWA 2022) and its pioneering Alaska Pilot Program, which for the first time provides a path for Alaska Tribes to begin to exercise STCJ over non-Indians for certain crimes in their villages—addressing a critical gap in tribal public safety.
“The combined expertise in the room represented approximately 80 years of experience in tribal justice,” noted ANJC COO Alex Cleghorn, highlighting the depth of knowledge shared during the intensive sessions. Participants engaged in discussions covering essential topics such as the current legal landscape, emerging opportunities, intertribal courts, youth diversion programs, and healing to wellness courts.
The gathering broke new ground in fostering unprecedented dialogue between tribal, state, and federal representatives. During the Department of Justice consultation, tribal leaders spoke truth to power about systemic challenges in federal-tribal relations. In one powerful moment, a tribal chief drew a direct line between current funding practices and historical trauma, comparing contemporary consultation methods to her grandmother’s boarding school experience.
The ITWG meeting serves as more than just a conventional gathering— but a platform for tribal sovereignty in action. Participating tribes represented the full spectrum of justice system development—from those with decades of experience to communities taking their first steps toward establishing tribal courts or police departments. This diversity of experience proved invaluable in identifying practical solutions to long-standing barriers.
The meeting gained additional significance from VAWA 2022 and the U.S. Department of Justice’s recent memorandum affirming Alaska Tribes’ inherent authority to exercise full civil and criminal jurisdiction over all Native people within their Villages.
As ANJC prepares for its next ITWG meeting in Fairbanks (spring 2025), the energy is palpable. One participant captured the spirit of the gathering, expressing hope that attendees would leave with “fire in their bellies” for Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction. The path forward depends on sustained collaboration between tribes, government representatives, tribal organizations and non-profits to enhance safety and justice across Alaska’s tribal communities.
Your support helps us extend our reach to tribes throughout the state, providing support and services to strengthen safety and justice in tribal communities. Consider donating to our annual Voices for Justice fundraiser today.
