"Alaska tribal advocates are upset by a section in the federal reauthorization of the 2000 Violence Against Women Act. Section 905 of the act would expand tribal court jurisdiction by allowing those courts to issue protective orders against ‘any person’ including non-Native offenders. That expansion in the eyes of Congress was a problem in Alaska where the legal status known as ‘Indian Country’ does not exist as it does on lower 48 reservations. The expansion was meant for those tribes not Alaska’s. That caused language to be added that would have exempted Alaska’s tribes from even their current jurisdiction over their members. Senator’s Murkowski and Begich are working on a fix, something called a savings clause that will retain the current authority for tribal courts in Alaska. Native American Rights Fund Attorney Natalie Landreth says removing the exemptions is important, but the fact that the exemption was there at all is disturbing."

Get the Story:
Alaska Tribes Angry With VAWA Exemption Error (Alaska Public Radio Network 4/25)

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