tribal court is in session
VOS had completed a Tribal Court Assessment which opened the door to BIA tribal court funding opportunities to implement the capacity to build the Village of Solomon Tribal Court.
VOS Tribal Court serves enrolled VOS Tribal Citizens or VOS eligible youth.
To Date, the Council has approved a Children’s Code and Tribal Court ordinance with Tribal Attorney’s, Ali Wykis and Sigvanna Tapqaq to which, VOS was able to successfully transfer a children’s state case into Tribal Court jurisdiction.
Here are some activities, the VOS Tribal Court can do;
Cultural Adoptions
State Custody Cases- Indian Child Welfare Act
Sentence Recommendations to Alaska State Court for certain misdemeanor offenses
All VOS youth or VOS eligible youth that are involved in a state case with a child welfare agency, is required by law to notify VOS. At this time, current VOS staff and children’s committee members are updated and briefed, attend hearings and due diligent investigating to intervene as a legal party.
If you have questions, please contact Liz Johnson at liz@villageofsolomon.org or Deilah at deilah@villageofsolomon.org.
VOS will be hiring a Tribal court administrator and family advocate to assist VOS in developing and building tribal court capacity. The job descriptions are provided here.
Tribal Court Judges will be selected through an election process, or appointed by the Council.
All Tribal Court employees will work directly with the VOS Children’s Committee, consisting of VOS Council members and Tribal Attorneys.
ICWA page has more information
The purpose of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) is "...to protect the best interest of Indian Children and to promote the stability and security of Indian tribes and families by the establishment of minimum Federal standards for the removal of Indian children and placement of such children in homes which will reflect the unique values of Indian culture... "(25 U.S. C. 1902). ICWA provides guidance to States regarding the handling of child abuse and neglect and adoption cases involving Native children and sets minimum standards for the handling of these cases.
https://www.bia.gov/bia/ois/dhs/icwa
DIVISION OF SELF-DETERMINATION SERVICES MISSION
To promote and advocate maximum Indian participation in the programs and services conducted by the Federal Government for Indians; and to encourage and support the development of tribal capacity to better manage the opportunities and responsibilities of self-determination.
https://www.bia.gov/bia/ois/dsd
To promote awareness of Tribal governmental responsibilities and processes, and to provide Tribes with the resources they need to foster strong and stable Tribal governments in exercising their rights as sovereign nations.
In accordance with the long-standing Federal policy of supporting Indian self-determination as expressed in the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, as amended Public Law 93-638; Tribal Government Services promotes the sovereignty of federally recognized Tribes. Tribal Government Services carries out this policy by supporting and assisting Indian Tribes in the development and maintenance of strong and stable Tribal governments capable of administering quality programs and developing economies of their respective communities
https://www.bia.gov/bia/ois/tgs
