The grants to indian tribal governments program assists tribal governments, and authorized designees of tribal governments, to 1) decrease the incidence of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual…

The Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women awarded Kawerak, Inc. $900,000 on October 1, 2025, under the Violence Against Women Discretionary Grants for Indian Tribal Governments program (CFDA 16.587), a continuation award with performance through September 30, 2028.

Kawerak, Inc., a tribally authorized non-profit consortium established by the Bering Straits Native Association and representing 20 federally recognized tribes across the Bering Strait, Norton Sound, and Yukon regions of western Alaska, will deliver victim safety services and trauma-informed training throughout the Bering Strait region. Funded activities include ensuring the safety of domestic violence victims; partnering with Regional Wellness Forum organizations to prioritize victim safety; implementing wellness messaging to youth; and providing culturally appropriate trauma-informed care training for service providers and first responders. Work is performed in Nome, Alaska. The Bering Sea Women's Group partnered with Kawerak in project planning.

The program supports tribal governments and authorized tribal designees to increase capacity to respond to violent crimes against Indian women and to develop and strengthen victim services in cases involving domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and stalking.

The grants to indian tribal governments program assists tribal governments, and authorized designees of tribal governments, to 1) decrease the incidence of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, SEX trafficking, and stalking in tribal communities; 2) strengthen the capacity of tribes to exercise their sovereign authority to respond to these violent crimes; and 3) ensure that perpetrators of these violent crimes are held accountable for their criminal behavior. Bering straits native association (BSNA) is a federally recognized alaska native claims settlement act regional corporation of native villages located in the bering straits region of alaska. Located in nome, alaska, kawerak, INC., a tribally authorized non-profit consortium established by BSNA, works to address violence against indian women by prioritizing safety and enhancing services to indian women victimized by domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and stalking. With this funding, kawerak, INC. Will: 1) ensure the safety of victims of domestic violence throughout the bering strait region; 2) partner with the regional wellness forum organizations to address domestic violence issues that prioritize victim safety in the bering strait region; 3) implement wellness messaging to youth; and 4) provide opportunities for service providers and first responders to receive staff training for culturally appropriate trauma-informed care. Kawerak partnered with the bering sea womens group to plan this project. This is a continuation award.