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 Intertribal 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). REGISTER for the Alaska Intertribal Technical Assist ..read more

In November 2023, 86 Mount Edgecumbe High School students participated in Color of Justice, a two-day conference sponsored in part by ANJC that lets teens experience what it’s like to be a lawyer, judge, or other legal professional. Last November, 86 Mount Edgecumbe High School (MEHS) students became lawyers, judges, and jurors for a single afternoon as they decided the fate of fictional defendants. The mock trial—which provided the students a glimpse at what it’s like to work in the field of law—was part of the Color of Justice youth conference, held in-person in Sitka for the first time sinc ..read more

Alaska Native Justice Center (ANJC) is offering a comprehensive introductory training on the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) multiple times this year, and registration is now open. This two-day training covers various crucial aspects of ICWA, including its historical context, the ongoing necessity of its provisions, the Child in Need of Aid (CINA) state court process, active efforts, placement preferences, intervention strategies, qualified expert witnesses, transfer of jurisdiction, and the exercise of Tribal sovereignty. The training sessions will be held four times throughout 2024. Three of ..read more

For clients looking for more information on reentry or restorative justice programs, those have moved under CITC management, effective Oct. 1, 2023. This change was made to best support our clients and align with programming and services offered at CITC, and to provide consistent participant support. The relocation of reentry services provides wraparound services to program participants through a single intake process. More information about Youth and Adult Reentry programs and contact information is provided below: Adult Reentry Who is eligible: Adults who have been released from prison or ar ..read more

ANJC welcomes Maude Blair as Tribal Justice Manager and Samantha Cherot as Managing Attorney The Alaska Native Justice Center (ANJC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Maude Blair as Tribal Justice Manager and Samantha Cherot as Managing Attorney. These strategic hires increase the number of attorneys on staff to eight with the full team growing to thirty staff. ANJC provides integrated legal and case management services to victims and survivors of crime. ANJC also represents Alaska Tribes in state court Indian Child Welfare Act cases and partners with Alaska Tribes in supporting tribal ..read more

The Alaska Native Justice Center (ANJC) is moving to a new location to best serve our clients. Effective Tuesday, August 1, we will be located in the Denali Towers North on the 11th floor in midtown Anchorage (2550 Denali Street). We will be providing all of our services at our new location and CITC staff at the Nat’uh Service Center will help any clients who go to our old location. ANJC services include: Legal services and support for victims and survivors of violent crime Safety planning, emergency support and protective orders Legal consultation Legal representation in family law matters ..read more

Mark your calendars for the Alaska Tribal Child Welfare Workers Conference, which will take place in September 26-28 in Anchorage, Alaska. This conference is open to Tribal ICWA workers and Tribal representatives across the state. The three-day conference will focus on implementation of the ICWA in Child Need of Aid cases and enhance attendee’s knowledge of and response to allegations of child abuse and neglect. Online registration is now open and will close early September 2023. Click here to register! More information about the 2023 Alaska Tribal Child Welfare Conference can b ..read more

In-Person Training Creates Statewide Connections Twenty-four Tribal ICWA workers attended an in-person Basic ICWA Training for Tribes in Anchorage put on by ANJC. When a family needs a well child check in Aniak, it’s part of Mary Kvamme’s job to follow up. She accompanies a state trooper, and sometimes a social services associate comes along, too. As an Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) Tribal worker, Mary works alone; the local trooper and associate are all the support she has. “In the village, we don’t have the lawyers there. We don’t have the social workers there,” she pointed out. In April ..read more

Annual event to encourage young people of color to enter legal field is a success The 2023 Color of Justice cohort. High school students met April 6 – 7 to learn about professions in the legal field. This April 6 and 7, 64 Anchorage high school students saw the future—at least, one version of it. Thanks to the Color of Justice program, hosted by the Alaska Native Justice Center (ANJC) and its partners, students got an opportunity to imagine themselves in the legal field. One student who hadn’t previously considered a legal career before the event reported that, after participating in a mock tr ..read more

ANJC Advocate Kayla Cox’s passion for helping assault victims goes beyond the office and into the classroom  ANJC Advocate Kayla Cox Kayla Cox came to the Alaska Native Justice Center (ANJC) as an intern for the Reentry Program in 2018. But while her interest in reentry led her to ANJC, her experience working for the organization inspired a new area of focus: advocacy for victims of sexual assault. Starting in 2019, Kayla pivoted to working with ANJC’s advocacy team, where she could provide support to women and other individuals who had experienced sexual assault or domestic violence. “Ad ..read more