Desiree Hagen, KYUK - Bethel

Some Yup’ik dance groups are just beginning to dance together again after two years in the pandemic. The village of Napaskiak remembers a much longer period without the drums.

The bill establishes a pilot program for tribes to exercise what’s called Special Domestic Violence Criminal Jurisdiction. This recognizes the authority of tribes to exercise criminal jurisdiction over non-natives who commit certain crimes against a Native victim on Tribal land. These crimes include stalking, domestic violence, and sexual assault. The tribes now await the details on how to apply, according to Winter Montgomery, Tribal Justice Attorney for AVCP.

“It moved so fast. To me it looked like it was alive,” Polk said about the fire. “I was totally awestruck.