Huslia village identifies the complete lack of public safety as the most significant problem facing our community and the complexities of developing a public safety program in alaska has been a barrier

The Huslia Village Tribal Council was awarded a $300,000 project grant from the Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Assistance under the Justice System Infrastructure Program for Indian Tribes (CFDA 16.596). The grant will fund the development of Huslia Village's first public safety program to address critical infrastructure needs. Located in a remote region of Alaska accessible only by small plane, Huslia Village currently lacks any law enforcement services. Funding will support planning activities such as legal consultation and program design to explore sustainable options for establishing trained public safety officers. This is intended to curb issues like substance abuse, domestic violence, and child abuse/neglect by discouraging crime and protecting community members who currently intervene without training or equipment when incidents occur. The isolated village has an active tribal government committed to regulating substance flow but this work is dangerous without proper resources. The public safety program established with this grant aims to meet Huslia's unique safety needs through strengthened community infrastructure.

Huslia village has a strong and involved tribal government. Huslia is remote, isolated and has an off the road system, accessible only by small plane. We have issues with drugs and alcohol and the related crimes associated with substance and alcohol misuse including domestic violence, child abuse and neglect and trauma associated with growing up in alcoholic homes. We have no public safety of any kind. Without any officers, there is little to discourage crime and community members are exposed to danger both from the perpetrators of crime and when attempting to mitigate a crime as an untrained and unequipped individual. We have a tribal committee that works to regulate the flow of alcohol and drugs into the community meeting planes. The job is dangerous for untrained people and all of US are untrained, walking into situations that are volatile. We need to develop a public safety program that meets the needs of our community. We are requesting funds for a planning grant to explore options, talk to legal counsel, and create a program.