Alutiiq Traditional Recovery Program

The FY 2008 Indian Alcohol and Substance Abuse Program (IASAP) provides funding and technical assistance to federally recognized tribal governments to plan, implement, or enhance tribal justice strategies to address crime issues related to alcohol and substance abuse. Key IASAP objectives include: developing a project activity team; identifying, apprehending, and prosecuting those who illegally transport, distribute, and use alcohol and controlled substances; prevent and reduce the number of alcohol and substance-abuse-related crimes (with a priority on methamphetamine), traffic fatalities, and injuries; developing and enhancing collaborations with federal, state, tribal, and local criminal justice agencies; integrating tribal and non-tribal services for offenders and their families; and making available culturally appropriate treatment and other services.

The people of the Native Village of Afognak are the descendants of the original Alutiiq inhabitants of the village of Ag'waneq, and they have inhabited the Kodiak Archipelago of Alaska for more than 7,500 years. In 1964, the Great Alaska Earthquake and Tsunami nearly obliterated the Afognak village and the survivors rebuilt the community at a new location on Kodiak Island and named the village Port Lions. Today, many of the members live and work in the city of Kodiak and in Port Lions. The Native Village of Afognak will use this grant to ensure the continuity of its traditions and culture while maintaining its sovereignty and self-determination by developing an alcohol and substance abuse recovery program. The goal of the program is to prevent and reduce criminal behavior by 15 percent and to treat offenders in recovery with a persistent sobriety rate of 95 percent. The funds will be used to create an intensive, thorough recovery program for clients at a remote Afognak lodge facility, accessible only by floatplane and boat. A 10-member Advisory Board will design and monitor the program, as well as, provide oversight and establish the necessary contracts and collaborative agreements for the support and treatment services. Project staff will issue thorough, comprehensive written progress and fiscal reports on a regular schedule to keep all interested parties apprised of its efforts of moving forward toward the goal of having a seamless, continuum of services to the Village's juvenile and adult population.

CA/NCF