WHEREAS, Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC) is an Alaska Native tribal health and social services consortium established by the Interior Alaska tribes and tribal communities, to provide a unified voice in advancing sovereign tribal governments through the promotion of physical and mental wellness, education, socioeconomic development and culture of the Interior Alaska Native; and
WHEREAS, After receiving his Juris Doctorate in 2000 from the University of Idaho College of Law, Kevin Illingworth committed his career to assisting Tribal Governments and Tribal Judicial Systems. He has served as faculty for the Tribal Governance Program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks since 2002, serving many years as the only full-time faculty of the program, and achieved full Professor in 2018; and
WHEREAS, Under Professor Illingworth, the Tribal Governance Program has grown to maintain a continued collaborative partnership with TCC to maximize resources to promote knowledge, skills, and understanding to advance tribal sovereignty; strengthen tribal governance, self-determination, self-governance in practice; technical assistance and education to tribal priorities/requests. In this capacity he has provided meaningful education to hundreds of Tribal Leaders and Citizens through invaluable courses, trainings, guest lectures, and technical assistance specifically designed to meet Tribal needs and most importantly elevated the elders and cultural bearers as educational experts; and
WHEREAS, He was instrumental in the development of the documentaries, Alaska Tribes: The Story of Federal Indian Law in Alaska, Tribal Nations: The Story of Federal Indian Law; and he co-authored Alaska Code Development Project Training Curriculum and contributed to the book, The Tanana Chiefs: Native Rights and Western Laws. He is also a proponent of Alaska Native Hunting and Fishing Rights as demonstrated in his work, “A Brief Explanation of Aboriginal Hunting and Fishing Rights and Tribal Hunting and Fishing Rights”; and
WHEREAS, Professor Illingworth is a co-organizer of the TCC Annual Tribal Court Conference, and contributes to the Tribal Governance Symposiums which both are known statewide for excellence; has provided direct technical assistance in: Federal Indian Law, Tribal Law, Jurisdiction, and Courts, Tribal Child Welfare, Tribal Governance, Advocacy, Leadership, and Wellness, Tribal Self-Determination Contracting/Compacting, Tribal Administration/Program/Project Management, Finance, and Budgeting, Tribal Strategic/Stewardship/Land Use Planning and Program Development, Tribal Engagement with State and Federal Legislators, Administrations, and Agencies; and
WHEREAS, His contributions have been noted by the 2017 Cheesh’na Tribal Blanket and Award of Appreciation for Service, 2013 National Judicial College Award for service, 2009 Dennis Demmert Award for exemplary commitment and service to students, and 2005, 2006 Certificate of Honor Judicial Services Workgroup for the US Congressionally appointed Alaska Rural Justice and Law Enforcement Commission.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors acknowledges the great contributions of Professor Kevin Illingworth to Tribal Self-Determination in Alaska and the advancement of the Tribal Governance Program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the continued education of Tribal Citizens.
Submitted by: Beaver Tribal Council
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