Guided Path to Wellness

The Native Village of Eyak is a federally recognized tribe located in the Valdez-Cordova Census Area of Alaska. With this funding, the Native Village of Eyak Tribal Court will develop a program with intensive oversight to help create accountability for those who are struggling with substance abuse, mental health issue, youth, or the generally deemed “at-risk” population within the community. This program will take traditional Talking Circles and incorporate more follow up and structured plans to help the participants establish a healthier and more structured lifestyle. Local community health and wellness providers have identified the need of someone to conduct warm handoffs and oversight of clients as a significant need and an opportunity to increase follow through with at-risk participants. The Tribal Court intends to fill this role with a Community Compliance Officer who will assist in supporting clients and establishing short and long-term goals that will be established during Circles. 
 
Located in Cordova, Alaska, this geographically isolated community of 2,829 residents lives along the Prince William Sound in the North Gulf Coast. The Tribe consists of approximately 409 active Members within the region and 641 Members total. Like so many communities across Alaska, the Native Village of Eyak and the city of Cordova have been struggling to combat the negative effects of substance abuse and mental health which has only increased since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Financial and human resources are limited in rural Alaska; thus, these projects will be introduced in a way that is both beneficial for community awareness and acceptance as well as costeffective for participating agencies. To achieve our project goals, we do not need new equipment, rather we need funding to cover personnel costs to implement an extensive and effective program to enhance our Tribal Court.

The Native Village of Eyak wants to be a leading example that communities are stronger when they work together. For that reason, all the programs implemented by the Tribal Court will be available to all citizens of Cordova regardless of ethnicity. Untreated struggles of mental health, lacking prevention services for youth and at-risk individuals, and the subsequent alcoholism and the opioid abuse have ravaged the state for too long. This position already has community support but needs the financial support to be successfully implemented. By establishing partnerships with other local agencies, we can create a sustainable environment that allows people to have the support to heal and live a life free from addiction.