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JUDICIAL BRANCH
Tlingit & Haida developed a model legal system that reflects traditional authority and laws in order to best serve the jurisdictional and socioeconomic needs of the Communities. Tlingit & Haida recognizes that our children are our most vital resource for the continued existence and integrity of the Tribes, and we are therefore compelled to promote and maintain the health and well-being of all of our children.
To achieve some of these goals, much energy and resources have been devoted to the development of a Child Support Program and to strengthening the Tribal Court infrastructure in order to provide judicial services to tribal citizen families in need of emotional and economic support for their children.
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About Tribal Courts
Tribal courts generally have a structure similar to U.S. state and federal courts, but they operate under the sovereignty of tribes.
1. Trial Court (Lower Court)
- This is the first level where cases are heard.
- Handles civil, criminal, and family law matters within the tribe’s jurisdiction.
- Often includes specialized courts such as Wellness Courts.
2. Tribal Supreme Court (Highest Level)
- The final authority on legal matters within the tribe.
- Reviews appeals from lower courts and interprets tribal laws and constitutions.
For more information, please reach out to our Tribal Court at:
Tribal Court
The Tlingit & Haida Wellness Court is an alternative to the traditional State of Alaska criminal justice system, aimed at addressing the root causes of substance misuse, reducing recidivism and improving one’s overall wellness. The Tlingit & Haida Wellness Court is a voluntary, four-phased program that provides restorative justice to tribal citizens and their families. The program’s focus is to address substance misuse, reduce recidivism among Alaska Native people and bring holistic healing to the individual through community engagement, collaborative intervention, and cultural/traditional practices. The Wellness Court is devoted to supporting our participants by providing support and guidance with a focus on people’s strengths, while teaching our way of life through traditional tribal values. Each participant will be assigned a Wellness team to provide clinical services, intensive case management and judicial oversight.
Documents & Forms
For more information, please reach out to our Wellness Court at:
Wellness Court
Family Court Services provides services to court-involved tribal citizens and their families.
- Court ordered investigations for guardianship, adoption, and child custody
- Court advocacy for tribal citizens, and
- Other child welfare related placements.
Eligibility Requirements
For more information, please reach out to our Family Court Services at:
Tribal Court
In January 2016, Tlingit & Haida’s Court Judges and Judiciary Committee launched a series of roundtable sessions throughout Southeast Alaska to increase awareness of Bureau of Indian Affairs funding opportunities that tribes can acquire to develop new tribal courts or enhance existing ones. Later on, they started providing educational trainings to the communities of Tlingit & Haida. The Court Development & Training Specialist works with an advisory team comprised of Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian Indigenous justice experts who serve as advisors and guides to the project. Team members consult with and work closely with individual tribes to develop and deliver onsite trainings, curricula materials and provide follow-up assistance with code development customized to fit the varying needs of each community.
The Court Development and Training initiative provides technical assistance, training, and capacity-building services by distance or onsite to Southeast Alaska tribes interested in establishing single/intertribal/appellate courts and codes. Specific assistance includes, but is not limited to, accessing funding for court development and operation; drafting court codes and rules; delivering training for judicial and court personnel and community; justice system planning and strategy implementation and performing court assessments.
Eligibility Requirements:
Must be a tribe in Southeast Alaska.
Application Process:
Court Development & Training services are initiated by filing a technical assistance form with the program specialist. The program specialist will reply withing 48 hours.
Communities Served:
All Southeast Alaska communities.