Tribal Court

Ka’illjuus Lisa Lang Chief Justice The Tribal Court was established by Articles VII and XI of the Constitution as a separate branch of government to exercise the Tribe’s inherent sovereignty and provide a culturally appropriate forum for tribal citizens to address their judicial needs.

The Executive Council, Judiciary Committee, elected Justices and Tribal Court staff continue to work toward expanding and sustaining the Tribal Court’s judicial services. The Tribal Court’s docket typically contains the following types of cases: » Adoption » Child Custody » Child Support » Child Welfare » Civil » Divorce » Domestic Violence » Emancipation » Guardianship » Marriages » Parental Termination » Paternity » Wellness - Youth & Adult The Tribal Court’s judicial services are guided by the traditional values of respect, patience, and the responsibility to safeguard the future of the Tribe by promoting healthy families. The Tribal Court resolves matters by reviewing proposed agreements of the parties or by hearing testimony and reviewing evidence to render a written and oral decision. Each final decision made at the trial court level may be reviewed upon request to the Tlingit & Haida Supreme Court, which is comprised of three elected Justices: one Chief Justice and two Associate Justices.

The Tribal Court also provides technical assistance as a resource to other Alaska tribes. Other Alaska tribes may request assistance or information on how to start a tribal court, explore the various methods of dispute resolution and restorative justice, and how to maintain stability to keep judicial services available.

During the Fall of 2021, the Tribal Court underwent structural changes to realign some of its services. Domestic Violence advocacy and Home Study Investigations complemented the other services provided by the Tribe’s Community & Behavioral Services (CBS) Healing Center. Those services and their respective staff have been relocated under CBS.

A priority for 2021 was employee recruitment and the continued development of the Court through Victims Services planning and implementation of our Wellness Courts for families affected by the opioid and substance misuse crisis. The Tribal Court met or exceeded most of its 2021 goals.

Judiciary Committee:

DonnaRae James, Chair Patricia Alexander Carrie Dodson James Hart Tasha Hotch William Martin Will Micklin Eva Rowan

2021 Highlights

ƒ Continued to implement the Tribe’s COVID-19 emergency protocols and work-from-home plan with continual increase in cases filed and hearings held at the Trial Court level. ƒ Negotiated a framework for accepting referrals from the State of Alaska – Department of Juvenile

Justice (DJJ) to Youth Healing to Wellness Court that became the foundation of a Memorandum of

Understanding between the Tribe and DJJ. ƒ Continued partnership with the Tribal Family & Youth Services department’s Elderly Services program to facilitate Elders Talking Circles.

ƒ Awarded continued one-time funding from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) - Tribal Justice Support; Phase-II funding from Department of

Justice (DOJ) - Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention for an additional three (3) years of funding; and funding through the

Tides Foundation to support peacemaking training opportunities. ƒ Provided staff support to the Judiciary Committee and Violence

Against Women Task Force. ƒ Continued planning and preparation for the relocation and renovation of the new Tribal Court space. ƒ Conducted mandated home studies and facilitated supervised phone calls in adoption, custody, and guardianship cases through the Family

Court Services program. Kinduàan ƒ Provided support and advocacy services to 10 petitioners involved in Frances Andrews domestic violence cases. Court Administrator ƒ Hosted a Domestic Violence Awareness training for the Tribe’s Tribal January - September

Child Support Unit. ƒ Partnered with Anchorage Tlingit & Haida Community Council, Alaska Native Justice Center, Alaska

Native Women’s Resource Center, and Alaska Native Heritage Center, to host a “Keeping Our

Families Safe” webinar series. ƒ Helped sponsor the Increasing Safety for Alaska Native Women Summit in Yakutat, Alaska in partnership with Yakutat Tlingit Tribe and the Alaska Native Women’s Resource Center which addressed domestic and gender-based violence. ƒ Provided a family safety presentation with the Alaska Native Women’s Resource Center at the

Yakutat Culture Camp. ƒ Assisted in setting offices up on Prince of Wales Island, Alaska.

2022 Goals

ƒ Provide Adult Wellness Court services to individuals and families impacted by opioid addiction and misuse who may also face removal of tribal children from their homes. ƒ Serve tribal youth (14-18 years old) through the Youth Wellness Court. ƒ Continue to provide home study reports in adoption and guardianship cases through Family Court

Services. ƒ Continue to partner with Hoonah Indian Association by providing technical assistance for the development of their tribal court. ƒ Host trainings on Indigenous methods of dispute resolution throughout Southeast Alaska to support and foster community driven solutions. ƒ Continue to offer and conduct Indigenous methods of dispute resolution. ƒ Continue to build tribal court capacity through the strategic planning and partnership with the

Alaska Court System in the potential establishment of an Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) Court.