In a unanimous opinion, the Alaska Supreme Court on Friday upheld the sovereign rights of Alaska's federally recognized tribes.

But the court said tribal sovereignty doesn't extend to the Association of Village Council Presidents, an inter-tribal organization that administers government and social service program for 56 Native villages.

The ruling reopens a lawsuit filed against AVCP by two Native families who say their children were abused due to negligence at AVCP's Head Start program.

Although the AVCP was held to be liable for lawsuits, Native advocates praised the court's ruling for its strong, pro-tribal sovereignty language.

Get the Story:
Native group has no tribal immunity (The Anchorage Daily News 2/1)

Get the Decision:
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium v. Settlement Funds Held For or to be Paid on Behalf of E.R. (January 31, 2003)

Relevant Links:
Association of Village Council Presidents - http://www.avcp.org

Related Stories:
Alaska Supreme Court considers Native sovereignty (09/16)