Tanana Chiefs Conference and the University of Alaska Fairbanks successfully co-hosted the 39th Annual Tribal Court Conference from August 1st to 4th, 2023. The conference planning committee also included tribal partners from Alaska Native Justice Center and Alaska Native Women Resource Center. The conference, centered on the theme ‘Balance Today for Safe Communities Tomorrow: How can our tribal justice systems help?’ brought together around 300 participants, including tribal leaders, tribal administrators, tribal court judges, law enforcement officers, lawmakers, and more. Over 70 tribal nations across the State of Alaska were represented and in attendance.
The event aimed to address critical issues and challenges faced by indigenous communities in Alaska and beyond. By focusing on the concept of balance, the conference sought to explore ways in which tribal justice systems could contribute to creating safer and healthier communities for future generations.
“Tribal courts are an essential part of our rural justice systems and is a testament to tribal self-determination,” says Chief/Chairman Brian Ridley, “Tribal courts empower Tribes to address matters independently by delivering justice that is rooted in indigenous values, and fostering healing and wellness.”
The conference itself was organized into four categories of wellness, symbolizing the indigenous medicine wheel: emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual. Each aspect was covered through a series of presentations and discussions that offered a comprehensive exploration of tribal justice and community well-being.
Across the three and half days, tribal justice presenters and panelist engaged in dialogue to address and improve rural responses to child protection, domestic violence, establishing tribal police departments, and asserting tribal sovereignty to protect vulnerable tribal members. Attendees also were given the opportunity to hear from state and federal partners, including U.S. Congress and the Alaska Supreme Court, on state and federal initiatives to improve government to government relations and access to justice for Alaska Native and rural communities.
One afternoon was used to offer the Alaska Blanket Exercise, a training curriculum developed by Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortia and authored by TCC beneficiary Teisha Simmons, the exercise is a history lesson – developed in collaboration with Alaska Native Elders, knowledge keepers and educators – that fosters truth, understanding, respect, and reconciliation among Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. Following the excise attendee broke up into talking circles to debrief and discuss their experience participating in the exercise.
A major focus in the conference was related to the newest federal legislation to impact Tribal justice systems, the reauthorization of Violence Against Women 2022’s tribal title ‘Alaska Public Safety Empowerment Act’, which affirms all federally recognized tribes in Alaska civil jurisdiction over all persons in their service area and criminal jurisdiction over all ‘Indian persons’ within a Tribe’s ‘Alaska Village Statistical Areas’ as defined by ANCSA; as well as the new ability for Alaska tribes to apply for a pilot project to have ‘special criminal jurisdiction’ over non-native people within a Tribe’s ‘Alaska Village Statistical Area’.
Throughout the event, participants had the opportunity to connect, learn, and contribute to the collective efforts of enhancing tribal justice systems and fostering safe and resilient communities. By combining traditional cultural practices with contemporary knowledge, the event emphasized the importance of preserving indigenous values while adapting to modern realities.
TCC’s Tribal Government and Justice Division is extremely pleased with the high turnout of the conference from all over the State, and the feedback provided during the last days’ roundtable discussion and survey. TCC and UAF are already preparing for the 40th Annual conference which will be held in Fairbanks at the Westmark Hotel, May 3-6, 2024. A save the date will be sent later this fall.
