KNBA News for March 7th, 2016
Southeast Tribes Take Control of Foster Care
By Ed Schoenfeld, CoastAlaska
The largest tribal government in Southeast Alaska now has authority over foster care and other services for Native children facing abuse or neglect. An agreement signed this past week transfers state management, as well as funding, to the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska.
The central council, which is headquartered in Juneau, lists more than 30,000 tribal members in and outside of the state.
But tribal children removed from their parents due to abuse or neglect are often placed in non-Native homes.
Council President Richard Peterson says Native children have a better chance in life if they know their heritage. He says those separated from their extended families and cultures have a harder time.
“A lot of us don’t know who we are. We don’t know how we fit into this modern society that has grown up around us. But I am ever so grateful that we’re taking steps forward, steps that are going to heal those wounds that are going to put our families back together,” said Peterson.
The council says about two-thirds of all Southeast children in state custody are Alaska Native or American Indian. Peterson says his tribal organization’s cultural understanding will make it easier to work with parents and increase the number of Native foster homes.
The agreement puts the central council in charge of temporary foster care placement until children can safely return home. If that can’t happen, it will find permanent homes with relatives or through adoption.
The tribe also takes over regional state programs addressing underlying causes of abuse and neglect. And it will support children placed with relatives who become guardians or adoptive families.
The council has had control and funding for some other state social-service programs in Southeast for more than a decade. Alaska Health and Social Services Commissioner Valerie Davidson says this transfer is long overdue.
“This agreement really takes it to a whole new level by extending child welfare and tribal court services, including extensive case management, foster-home licensing, financial support for tribal foster homes and a whole host of other services,” said Davidson.
The agreement is modeled after a 2013 compact with Interior Alaska’s Tanana Chiefs Conference.
The Tlingit-Haida Central Council and some other tribal governments have sought such authority for years. But they’ve met opposition from some state officials, among others.
Davidson says it’s time to return control.
“This truly is a government-to-government agreement that recognizes that tribes are uniquely and supremely and ultimately qualified to meet the needs of tribal families,” said Davidson.
The council’s Peterson says it’s also time for tribal organizations to provide more services to people they best understand.
“I’m a major proponent of our tribal sovereignty. And building upon our tribal courts and our programs, this is us being sovereign. Putting put our families back together is being sovereign,” said Peterson.
The agreement was signed during a March 2nd ceremony at the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall in downtown Juneau.
ESPN Film: ‘I am Yup’ik’
By Charles Enoch, KYUK
A short film starring Toksook Bay high school student Byron Nicholai will air on ESPN’s SportsCenter this past Friday. The film,‘I am Yup’ik’ was filmed in Bethel and Toksook Bay.
Co-Directors Daniele Anastasion and Nathan Golon came to Bethel to film a movie about basketball and the Yup’ik culture in January and August of 2015. Anastasion says luckily they met Byron Nicholai who happened to be on the Toksook Bay Islanders basketball team.
“We found this kid who was extraordinarily connected to his Yup’ik identity and his heritage, whose mission is really to put his Yup’ik identity out there and teach people to reconnect with their culture,” said Anastasion.
A summary on the ESPN Media Zone website says the movie revolves around Nicholai’s character making his way to an all Yup’ik basketball tournament while connecting to his culture and bringing pride to his community.
7 Alaska Native Mushers Compete in 2016 Iditarod
By Daysha Eaton, KBBI
The nearly thousand-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race started Sunday in Willow.
The race has a staggered start, with 85 participants this year. Racers include seven Alaska Native mushers: Richie Diehl, John Baker, Pete Kaiser, Mike Williams Jr., and the Redington brothers – Robert, Ryan and Ray Jr.
The winner is expected in Nome in about nine days.