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

This $899,999 Project Grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (CFDA 16.596 Tribal Justice Assistance Program), to the Native Village of Chitina, a federally recognized tribe in Chitina, Alaska. The funding will support the implementation of the Chitina Tribal Officer Program over a 5-year period from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2029. Key project activities include hiring a tribal officer, purchasing a patrol vehicle, attending mandatory trainings, procuring needed equipment and supplies, and providing officer housing. The expected outcomes are reductions in public safety issues such as public intoxication, driving under the influence, drug abuse, theft, vandalism, trespassing, fish and game violations, missing and murdered indigenous people, human trafficking, and problems arising from the high volume of tourists in the Chitina region. The primary beneficiaries are the Ahtna Dene community in the isolated Chitina area, which has lacked local police protection.

With this funding the tribe will implement the chitina tribal officer program. This will be done in cooperation with the chickaloon native village. Project activities include hiring a tribal officer, purchasing a used patrol vehicle, attending mandatory trainings, purchasing needed equipment and supplies to equip a tribal officer, and providing officer housing for five years. Expected outcomes include reduced crime in the following areas: public intoxication, driving under influences, drug abuse, theft, vandalism, trespassing, fish and game violations, missing and murdered indigenous people, human trafficking, and public safety problems arising from the tens of thousands of tourists that flock to the chitina region each summer. The primary beneficiaries of the project will be the ahtna dene residing in the isolated community of chitina, which has lacked local police protection for generations.