TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Tribal IDs will continue to be accepted and valid for domestic travel through TSA.
Requirements for REAL ID will not be in effect until May 7, 2025. As of May 7, 2025 Standard Alaska Drivers Licenses and Identification cards will NOT be accepted for travel, but a valid Tribal ID will be accepted.
Tribal IDs have been updated for each Bering Strait Tribe to meet REAL ID requirements, listing physical residence, physical description, watermark and include a photo ID. Tribal Coordinators will be issuing them when their systems is set up. Please contact Tribal Affairs at 443-4257 to learn more.
Tribal Affairs
A dedicated team working efficiently to promote the development of community self-sufficiency, leadership and cultural awareness, by providing meaningful training programs and technical assistance in a positive work environment
The Tribal Affairs program assists tribal councils in exercising self-governance and provides training and technical assistance, for 19 of the 20 federally-recognized tribes in the Bering Strait region. The department consists of 7 core staff, and 19 Village-based staff in Brevig Mission, Council, Diomede, Elim, Gambell, Golovin, King Island, Koyuk, Mary’s Igloo, Savoonga, Shaktoolik, Shishmaref, Solomon, St. Michael, Stebbins, Teller, Unalakleet Wales and White Mountain.
Core Staff Contact List
| Position | Name | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tribal Affairs Director | Cheri McConnell | ta.pd@kawerak.org | 907-443-4257 |
| Tribal Affairs Manager | Charlene Isabell | tap@kawerak.org | 907-443-4255 |
| Southern Specialist – Tribal | Arlene Charles | tap@kawerak.org | 907-443-4256 |
| Northern Specialist – Tribal | Joleen Oleson | tap@kawerak.org | 907-443-4244 |
| Southern Specialist – City | Kimberly Gray | mas@kawerak.org | 907-443-4288 |
| Northern Specialist – City | Clarissa Eide | mas@kawerak.org | 907-443-4290 |
| Tribal Financial Advisor | Debbie Peacock | tap@kawerak.org | 907-600-7023 |
Tribal Coordinator Staff Contact List
| Village | Tribal Coordinator | Phone Number | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brevig Mission | Stephanie Fahey | tc.kts@kawerak.org | 907-642-4301 |
| Council | Rhonda West | tc.cou@kawerak.org | 907-443-7649 |
| Diomede | Frances Ozenna | tc.dio@kawerak.org | 907-686-2175 |
| Elim | Eugenia Jemewouk | tc.eli@kawerak.org | 907-890-3737 |
| Gambell | Sarah Campbell | tc-gam@kawerak.org | 907-985-5346, ext 2 |
| Golovin | Donna Katchatag | tc.glv@kawerak.org | 907-779-2214 |
| King Island | Janice Knowlton | tc.ki@kawerak.org | 907-443-2209 |
| Koyuk | Laverne Kimoktoak | tc.kka@kawerak.org | 907-963-3651 |
| Mary’s Igloo | Freida Oquilluk | tc.mi@kawerak.org | 907-642-3731 |
| Savoonga | Kacy Pungowiyi | tc.sva@kawerak.org | 907-984-6414 |
| Shaktoolik | Sophia Katchatag | tc.skk@kawerak.org | 907-955-3701 |
| Shishmaref | Darlene Olanna | tc.shh@kawerak.org | 907-649-3821 |
| Solomon | Sherri Lewis | tc.sol@kawerak.org | 907-443-4985 |
| Stebbins | Jacinta Martin | tc.wbb@kawerak.org | 907-934-2393 |
| St Michael | Paula Myomick | tc.smk@kawerak.org | 907-923-2304 |
| Teller | VACANT | tc.tla@kawerak.org | 907-642-3381 |
| Unalakleet | Velma Johnson | tc.unk@kawerak.org | 907-624-3622 |
| Wales | VACANT | tc.waa@kawerak.org | 907-664-3062 |
| White Mountain | Dorothy Barr | tc.wmo@kawerak.org | 907-638-3651 |
Goals
- Increase the capacity of all Tribal Councils to manage their finances and analyze their operations through on-site training and assistance.
- Improve tribal capacity to administer policies and procedures based on a strategic plan developed after an assessment conducted with tribal Legal Services.
- Develop and implement tribal leadership training plan with tribal Legal Services to assist tribal councils in focusing on the needs of their tribal member and communities.
Objectives
- To educate and train tribal coordinators and councils annually in enhancing self-sufficient cohesive tribal units.
- To assist tribes to become self-governed by providing technical assistance and training to tribal Coordinators and Tribal Councils thereby creating self-sufficient cohesive tribal units.
- To foster a cooperative management between Tribal Affairs and Councils enhancing tribal operations and supervision of Tribal Coordinators.
- To ensure that the Kawerak pass through funding policy is adhered to.
Tribal IDs will continue to be accepted and valid for domestic travel through TSA.
Requirements for REAL ID will not be in effect until May 7, 2025. As of May 7, 2025 Standard Alaska Drivers Licenses and Identification cards will NOT be accepted for travel, but a valid Tribal ID will be accepted.
Tribal IDs have been updated for each Bering Strait Tribe to meet REAL ID requirements, listing physical residence, physical description, watermark and include a photo ID. Tribal Coordinators will be issuing them when their systems is set up. Please contact Tribal Affairs at 443-4257 to learn more.
Tribal Affairs
A dedicated team working efficiently to promote the development of community self-sufficiency, leadership and cultural awareness, by providing meaningful training programs and technical assistance in a positive work environment
The Tribal Affairs program assists tribal councils in exercising self-governance and provides training and technical assistance, for 19 of the 20 federally-recognized tribes in the Bering Strait region. The department consists of 7 core staff, and 19 Village-based staff in Brevig Mission, Council, Diomede, Elim, Gambell, Golovin, King Island, Koyuk, Mary’s Igloo, Savoonga, Shaktoolik, Shishmaref, Solomon, St. Michael, Stebbins, Teller, Unalakleet Wales and White Mountain.
Core Staff Contact List
| Position | Name | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tribal Affairs Director | Cheri McConnell | ta.pd@kawerak.org | 907-443-4257 |
| Tribal Affairs Manager | Charlene Isabell | tap@kawerak.org | 907-443-4255 |
| Southern Specialist – Tribal | Arlene Charles | tap@kawerak.org | 907-443-4256 |
| Northern Specialist – Tribal | Joleen Oleson | tap@kawerak.org | 907-443-4244 |
| Southern Specialist – City | Kimberly Gray | mas@kawerak.org | 907-443-4288 |
| Northern Specialist – City | Clarissa Eide | mas@kawerak.org | 907-443-4290 |
| Tribal Financial Advisor | Debbie Peacock | tap@kawerak.org | 907-600-7023 |
Tribal Coordinator Staff Contact List
| Village | Tribal Coordinator | Phone Number | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brevig Mission | Stephanie Fahey | tc.kts@kawerak.org | 907-642-4301 |
| Council | Rhonda West | tc.cou@kawerak.org | 907-443-7649 |
| Diomede | Frances Ozenna | tc.dio@kawerak.org | 907-686-2175 |
| Elim | Eugenia Jemewouk | tc.eli@kawerak.org | 907-890-3737 |
| Gambell | Sarah Campbell | tc-gam@kawerak.org | 907-985-5346, ext 2 |
| Golovin | Donna Katchatag | tc.glv@kawerak.org | 907-779-2214 |
| King Island | Janice Knowlton | tc.ki@kawerak.org | 907-443-2209 |
| Koyuk | Laverne Kimoktoak | tc.kka@kawerak.org | 907-963-3651 |
| Mary’s Igloo | Freida Oquilluk | tc.mi@kawerak.org | 907-642-3731 |
| Savoonga | Kacy Pungowiyi | tc.sva@kawerak.org | 907-984-6414 |
| Shaktoolik | Sophia Katchatag | tc.skk@kawerak.org | 907-955-3701 |
| Shishmaref | Darlene Olanna | tc.shh@kawerak.org | 907-649-3821 |
| Solomon | Sherri Lewis | tc.sol@kawerak.org | 907-443-4985 |
| Stebbins | Jacinta Martin | tc.wbb@kawerak.org | 907-934-2393 |
| St Michael | Paula Myomick | tc.smk@kawerak.org | 907-923-2304 |
| Teller | VACANT | tc.tla@kawerak.org | 907-642-3381 |
| Unalakleet | Velma Johnson | tc.unk@kawerak.org | 907-624-3622 |
| Wales | VACANT | tc.waa@kawerak.org | 907-664-3062 |
| White Mountain | Dorothy Barr | tc.wmo@kawerak.org | 907-638-3651 |
Goals
- Increase the capacity of all Tribal Councils to manage their finances and analyze their operations through on-site training and assistance.
- Improve tribal capacity to administer policies and procedures based on a strategic plan developed after an assessment conducted with tribal Legal Services.
- Develop and implement tribal leadership training plan with tribal Legal Services to assist tribal councils in focusing on the needs of their tribal member and communities.
Objectives
- To educate and train tribal coordinators and councils annually in enhancing self-sufficient cohesive tribal units.
- To assist tribes to become self-governed by providing technical assistance and training to tribal Coordinators and Tribal Councils thereby creating self-sufficient cohesive tribal units.
- To foster a cooperative management between Tribal Affairs and Councils enhancing tribal operations and supervision of Tribal Coordinators.
- To ensure that the Kawerak pass through funding policy is adhered to.