Tlingit & Haida eNews 08.15.19
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News in this Edition...
- Tlingit & Haida Bids Farewell to Presiding Judge
- 2020 Annual Funding Agreement Negotiations Held
- Pre-registration Open for 35th Annual Only Fools Run at Midnight
- Math & English Tutors Recruitment
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Tlingit & Haida Bids Farewell to Presiding Judge
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Tlingit & Haida staff gathered to say their goodbyes and extend their well wishes to outgoing Tribal Court Presiding Judge Debra O’Gara at a farewell luncheon held on July 19, 2019. O’Gara has begun a new chapter in her career as Magistrate Judge serving the communities of Petersburg, Wrangell and Kake.
“Debra has been instrumental in the growth and direction of our Tribal Court and will be greatly missed, but I’m excited for her new role,” shared President Richard (Chalyee
É
esh) Peterson.
O’Gara served as Tlingit & Haida’s Tribal Court Presiding Judge for nearly four years and previously served as the Tribe’s Chief Justice and Magistrate. She has 30 years of experience in state court and tribal court; over two decades of which were spent practicing law as a prosecutor, staff attorney private practitioner and mediator.
For O’Gara, the decision to accept the Magistrate Judge position in Petersburg was not easy, but she believes that she can utilize her skills to build relationships and remove some of the negative connotations associated with having to go to court.
“People are often intimidated by courtrooms and judges,” shared O’Gara. “I’d like them to feel that they are part of a very important process and that their comments and concerns will be considered.”
O’Gara earned a Bachelor of Art’s degree in Political Science from the University of Washington, Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Alaska Southeast, and Juris Doctor from the University of Oregon. Her Tlingit name is Djik Sook and she is a Raven from the Teey Hit Taan clan.
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2020 Annual Funding Agreement Negotiations Held
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Tlingit & Haida, along with Compact tribes, recently held negotiations with the Office of Self-Governance (OSG) and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) for the 2020 Annual Funding Agreement (AFA). Matt Kallappa, Office of Self Governance Northwest Field Office Manager, and Keith Kahklen, BIA Natural Resources Manager, participated in the negotiations with Tlingit & Haida’s administrative team and tribal leaders representing several Compact tribes.
Through a Memorandum of Understanding, Southeast Alaska village tribes can authorize Tlingit & Haida to enter into a Self-Governance Compact and Annual Funding Agreement with the federal government to administer programs and services on their behalf. An AFA is a legally and mutually enforceable written agreement negotiated and entered into annually between a self-governance tribe and the BIA and specifies which programs a tribe can provide and identifies applicable funding.
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By tribal resolution, the following tribal communities have agreed to function as a consortium for certain services and have authorized Tlingit & Haida to compact with the federal government on their behalf: Chilkoot Indian Association, Craig Tribal Association (ICWA & Social Services only), Juneau Tlingit & Haida Community Council, Ketchikan Indian Community (Trust Services only), Klawock Cooperative Association, Organized Village of Kasaan (pending withdrawal from Compact), Organized Village of Saxman, Pelican Community Council, Skagway Traditional Council (Trust Services only), Tenakee Springs Indian Community (Trust Services only) and Wrangell Cooperative Association.
“Our negotiations went well this year and I appreciate the support we received from the Office of Self Governance and Bureau of Indian Affairs,” shared Tribal Operations & Self Governance Manager Helene Bennett who provides administrative support to and oversight of the Tribe’s BIA Self Governance programs. “AFA negotiations is also a great opportunity to check in with our Compact tribes.”
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A new change to the 2020 AFA is Senate Bill 943, also known as the Johnson O’Malley Supplemental Indian Education Program Modernization Act, which was signed into law on December 31, 2018 by President Donald Trump. The bill has changed the way funding is determined – rather than base funding, the funding will be calculated based on student count resulting in funding fluctuations year to year.
The 2020 budget for Compact funds has been projected at approximately $3.96 million for general operations and provision of programs including Burial Assistance, College Student Assistance, Enrollment, Forestry/Natural Resources, General Assistance, Indian Child Welfare Act, Job Placement & Training, Johnson O’Malley and Realty. The 2020 budget is subject to change based on the federal budget approval process of Congress.
Allocation of funding is calculated based on an Intertribal Distribution Worksheet which distributes tribal shares based on population for most programs with the exception of the Realty program which allocates funding based on the number of Native allotments in each Compact community.
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Pre-registration Open for 35th Annual Only Fools Run at Midnight
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Pre-Registration Dates:
Aug. 15 - Sept. 19, 2019
Registration Locations:
Juneau Alaska Clubs • Nugget Alaskan Outfitter • Sacred Grounds Cafes • Vocational Training & Resource Center
Tlingit & Haida is excited to host the 35th Annual Only Fools Run at Midnight! The 5K and 1 Mile Run/Walk/Wheelchair race will be held September 21, 2019 and will help raise funds for the Alumni Scholarship program.
Pre-registration ($20) will begin August 15th and ends at 4 PM on September 19th. Awards will be given for best costumes, wildest centipedes (five registered people or more connected) and top finishers.
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Math & English Tutors Recruitment
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Tlingit & Haida’s Navigators program is recruiting Math and English tutors to help students (Grades 6-12) with their studies for the 2019/2020 school year. Tutors will be paid under contract to provide 5-15 hours per week of tutoring during scheduled Study Group sessions.
Join an exciting team focused on the educational success of tribal youth by helping them maintain good academic standing!
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Our Mission
“Preserve our sovereignty, enhance our economic and cultural resources, and promote
self-sufficiency and self-governance for our citizens.”
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