The koyukuk native village is a federally recognized tribe located in koyukuk, alaska

The Koyukuk Native Village in Koyukuk, Alaska will receive $688,549 under a Formula Grant from the Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Assistance Tribal Justice Systems program (CFDA 16.608) from October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2026. The funding will support research into culturally-based coping skills and traditional healing practices to address alcohol abuse and recidivism. Specifically, the Koyukuk Native Village will hire a coordinator to conduct interviews with elders on how they overcame trauma from alcohol abuse. They will also hold gatherings for community members to learn from elders about applying traditional knowledge to coping with historical trauma. The goal is to compile culturally-grounded healing methods and foster community engagement to reduce substance abuse and criminal justice system involvement through traditional practices informed by elder testimony.

With this funding the koyukuk native village will: hire a project coordintor to research, through cultural gatherings where testimony will be heard and recorded on coping skills that were culturall-based to combat alcohol abuse and conduct individual interviews with elders on how they coped with trauma to recover from alcohol abuse. The koyukuk native village will additionally hold a series of culturally-based gatherings during which time community members will learn from the elders what traditional knowledge was used and how that knowledge was applied in coping with historical trauma. IT is the hope that this research will result in the compiliation of methods to be used in cultural healing practices that will allow for community members to develop a sense of belonging to the community and foster a sense of contributing to their community. The goal is to reduce the amount of alcohol abuse and to prevent reentry into the criminal justice system through traditional healing proactices as learned from the elders. The koyukuk native village holds a strong committment to the community in providing a place of healing and growth both with the youth and the elders. Bridging the GAP between elders and the next generations through storytelling and cultural activities can reduce the rates of reentry into the justice system.