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Alaska Inter-Tribal Technical Assistance Working Group (AK ITWG)

The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2022 (VAWA 2022) introduced the Alaska Pilot Program, which will enable Alaska Tribes to criminally prosecute non-Indians for specific crimes committed in their Villages. The primary purpose of the Alaska Inter-Tribal Technical Assistance Working Group (AK ITWG) is to bring together Alaska Tribes to collectively work toward enhancing safety and justice in Tribal communities with a particular emphasis on considering and preparing for the exercise of Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction (STCJ).

Upcoming Webinar

The Alaska Native Justice Center (ANJC) is offering a virtual learning opportunity for all Alaska Native Tribes interested in exercising Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction.

On May 6, Alex Cleghorn (ANJC) and Kevin Illingworth (UAF) will explain the impact of the VAWA 2022 legislation on tribal criminal jurisdiction. Participants will learn how Tribes can join the Alaska Pilot Project and access training and technical assistance on this topic. 

Title:  Alaska Tribal Justice and VAWA 2022
Date:  Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Time:  2 pm AKST
Duration:  1 hour

To register for this free virtual event, please visit: https://ncjfcj-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_9ehW7A5WSpGxCnH85T6agw

Save the Date!

The next AK ITWG convening is tentatively planned for September 22-23, 2025, in Anchorage, AK, pending approval by OVW. 

Registration and full details to follow. Contact AlaskaITWG@anjc.net if you have any questions.

AK ITWG Objectives

The objectives of the AK ITWG include:
 
1. Peer-to-Peer Collaboration: Through participation in the AK ITWG, Tribes engage in peer-to-peer collaboration, in an environment where Tribes can share experiences, insights, materials, forms, and successful strategies, and build a supportive network of Tribes addressing public safety concerns.
 
2. Technical Assistance: The AK ITWG serves as a resource hub, providing Tribes with technical assistance, knowledge, and resources from Alaska justice system experts on public safety and justice system development.
 
3. Challenges Identification and Resolution: The AK ITWG serves as a Tribal forum to collectively identify public safety challenges faced by Alaska Tribes and to develop targeted solutions and strategies to overcome obstacles hindering the effective establishment and operation of Tribal justice systems and the implementation of STCJ.
 
4. Preparation for Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction: A central focus of the AK ITWG is to support Tribes deciding whether and how to implement the Alaska-specific provisions of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2022 (VAWA 2022), which created the VAWA 2022 Alaska Pilot Program. More information about the Pilot Program, which will enable Alaska Tribes to criminally prosecute non-Indians for specific crimes committed in their Villages, is available here.
 
5. Funding Opportunities: The AK ITWG assists Tribes in identifying and accessing funding opportunities to support the implementation and improvement of Tribal justice systems, with a particular emphasis on preparing for the exercise of STCJ.
 
For more information about joining the Alaska ITWG or attending an upcoming meeting, contact AlaskaITWG@anjc.net.
 

Participating Tribes

There are currently 19 Alaska Native Tribes in Track 1 and five Tribes in Track 2 of the Alaska Pilot Program.
 

Track 2 Tribes:

  1. Chickaloon Native Village
  2. Organized Village of Kake
  3. Craig Tribal Association
  4. Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes
  5. Native Village of Dot Lake
 

Helpful Links:

This project was supported by Grant No. 15JOVW-23-GK-05462-MUMU awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Who is eligible
Tribes
Service area
Statewide

Questions

Contact ANJC for eligibility questions or to complete an application for services.

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