TRIBAL AFFAIRS
FORMS & DOCUMENTS
CONTACT INFORMATION
Tribal IDs will continue to be accepted and valid for domestic travel through TSA.
Requirements for REAL ID are in effect 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. Please ensure you have a NEW Tribal ID (issued 2024 or later).
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. You can receive your updated Tribal ID from your village office, or from the Nome Tribal Affairs office if your Tribe has an agreement with our office. 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 | Charlene Isabell | ta.pd@kawerak.org | 907-443-4257 |
| Tribal Affairs Manager | Sherri Lewis | tap@kawerak.org | 907-443-4255 |
| TA Accounting Manager – Southern | Arlene Charles | tap@kawerak.org | 907-443-4256 |
| TA Accounting Manager – Northern | Joleen Oleson | tap@kawerak.org | 907-443-4244 |
| Municipality Accounting Specialist – Southern | Kimberly Gray | mas@kawerak.org | 907-443-4288 |
| Municipality Accounting Specialist – Northern | Clarissa Eide | mas@kawerak.org | 907-443-4290 |
| CUAP – MAS Manager | Joni Yakunin | jyakunin@kawerak.org | 907-443-4375 |
Tribal Coordinator Staff Contact List
| Tribe | Tribal Coordinator (TC) Tribal Office Coordinator (TOC) | Phone Number | Alt Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Native Village of Brevig Mission | Stephanie Olanna | tc.kts@kawerak.org | 907-642-4301 | 907-643-0203 |
| Darla Tocktoo | dtocktoo@kawerak.org | |||
| Native Village of Council | Rhonda West | tc.cou@kawerak.org | 907-443-7649 | n/a |
| Trisha Walters | twalters@kawerak.org | |||
| Native Village of Diomede | Frances Ozenna | tc.dio@kawerak.org | 907-686-2175 | 907-686-2201 |
| Kristy Kunayak | kkunayak@kawerak.org | |||
| Native Village of Elim | Clara Daniels | tc.eli@kawerak.org | 907-890-3737 | 907-880-5060 |
| Eugenia Jemewouk | ejemewouk@kaerak.org | |||
| Native Village of Gambell | Cheryl Lowery | tc-gam@kawerak.org | 907-985-5346, ext 3 | 907-985-2382 |
| Layla Booshu | lbooshu@kawerak.org | |||
| Chinik Eskimo Community (Golovin) | Donna Katchatag | tc.glv@kawerak.org | 907-779-2214 | n/a |
| Kaylee Fagerstrom | kfnavarro@kawerak.org | |||
| King Island Native Community | Janice Knowlton | tc.ki@kawerak.org | 907-443-2209 | n/a |
| Native Village of Koyuk | Laverne Kimoktoak | tc.kka@kawerak.org | 907-963-3651 | 907-964-1167 907-963-2269 907-963-2425 907-963-2023 |
| Lola Hannon | lhannon@kawerak.org | |||
| Native Village of Mary’s Igloo | Freida Oquilluk | tc.mi@kawerak.org | 907-642-3731 | 907-643-0399 |
| Lauryn Garnie | lgarnie@kawerak.org | |||
| Native Village of Savoonga | Kacy Pungowiyi | tc.sva@kawerak.org | 907-984-6414 | n/a |
| Dena Kingeekuk | dkingeekuk@kawerak.org | |||
| Native Village of Shaktoolik | Desiree Rock | tc.skk@kawerak.org | 907-955-3701 | n/a |
| Raymond Ningeulook | rningeulook@kawerak.org | |||
| Native Village of Shishmaref | VACANT | tc.shh@kawerak.org | 907-649-3821 | 907-649-1309 |
| Frank Ningeulook | fningeulook@kawerak.org | |||
| Village of Solomon | Wilma Amaktoolik | tc.sol@kawerak.org | 907-443-4985 | n/a |
| Kelly Lyon | klyon@kawerak.org | |||
| Stebbins Community Association | Jacinta Martin | tc.wbb@kawerak.org | 907-934-2393 | n/a |
| Zoe Kobuk | zkobuk@kawerak.org | |||
| Native Village of Saint Michael | Paula Myomick | tc.smk@kawerak.org | 907-923-2304 | 907-933-1064 907-933-1112 |
| Native Village of Teller | Wesley Okbaok | tc.tla@kawerak.org | 907-642-3381 | 907-643-0030 |
| Native Village of Unalakleet | Velma Johnson | tc.unk@kawerak.org | 907-624-3622 | n/a |
| Native Village of Wales | Gregory Oxereok | tc.waa@kawerak.org | 907-664-3062 | 907-634-0171 |
| Rachel Seetook | rseetook@kawerak.org | |||
| Native Village of White Mountain | Dorothy Barr | tc.wmo@kawerak.org | 907-638-3651 | n/a |
| Sean Bergamaschi | sbergamaschi@kawerak.org |
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 are in effect 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. Please ensure you have a NEW Tribal ID (issued 2024 or later).
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. You can receive your updated Tribal ID from your village office, or from the Nome Tribal Affairs office if your Tribe has an agreement with our office. 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 | Charlene Isabell | ta.pd@kawerak.org | 907-443-4257 |
| Tribal Affairs Manager | Sherri Lewis | tap@kawerak.org | 907-443-4255 |
| TA Accounting Manager – Southern | Arlene Charles | tap@kawerak.org | 907-443-4256 |
| TA Accounting Manager – Northern | Joleen Oleson | tap@kawerak.org | 907-443-4244 |
| Municipality Accounting Specialist – Southern | Kimberly Gray | mas@kawerak.org | 907-443-4288 |
| Municipality Accounting Specialist – Northern | Clarissa Eide | mas@kawerak.org | 907-443-4290 |
| CUAP – MAS Manager | Joni Yakunin | jyakunin@kawerak.org | 907-443-4375 |
Tribal Coordinator Staff Contact List
| Tribe | Tribal Coordinator (TC) Tribal Office Coordinator (TOC) | Phone Number | Alt Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Native Village of Brevig Mission | Stephanie Olanna | tc.kts@kawerak.org | 907-642-4301 | 907-643-0203 |
| Darla Tocktoo | dtocktoo@kawerak.org | |||
| Native Village of Council | Rhonda West | tc.cou@kawerak.org | 907-443-7649 | n/a |
| Trisha Walters | twalters@kawerak.org | |||
| Native Village of Diomede | Frances Ozenna | tc.dio@kawerak.org | 907-686-2175 | 907-686-2201 |
| Kristy Kunayak | kkunayak@kawerak.org | |||
| Native Village of Elim | Clara Daniels | tc.eli@kawerak.org | 907-890-3737 | 907-880-5060 |
| Eugenia Jemewouk | ejemewouk@kaerak.org | |||
| Native Village of Gambell | Cheryl Lowery | tc-gam@kawerak.org | 907-985-5346, ext 3 | 907-985-2382 |
| Layla Booshu | lbooshu@kawerak.org | |||
| Chinik Eskimo Community (Golovin) | Donna Katchatag | tc.glv@kawerak.org | 907-779-2214 | n/a |
| Kaylee Fagerstrom | kfnavarro@kawerak.org | |||
| King Island Native Community | Janice Knowlton | tc.ki@kawerak.org | 907-443-2209 | n/a |
| Native Village of Koyuk | Laverne Kimoktoak | tc.kka@kawerak.org | 907-963-3651 | 907-964-1167 907-963-2269 907-963-2425 907-963-2023 |
| Lola Hannon | lhannon@kawerak.org | |||
| Native Village of Mary’s Igloo | Freida Oquilluk | tc.mi@kawerak.org | 907-642-3731 | 907-643-0399 |
| Lauryn Garnie | lgarnie@kawerak.org | |||
| Native Village of Savoonga | Kacy Pungowiyi | tc.sva@kawerak.org | 907-984-6414 | n/a |
| Dena Kingeekuk | dkingeekuk@kawerak.org | |||
| Native Village of Shaktoolik | Desiree Rock | tc.skk@kawerak.org | 907-955-3701 | n/a |
| Raymond Ningeulook | rningeulook@kawerak.org | |||
| Native Village of Shishmaref | VACANT | tc.shh@kawerak.org | 907-649-3821 | 907-649-1309 |
| Frank Ningeulook | fningeulook@kawerak.org | |||
| Village of Solomon | Wilma Amaktoolik | tc.sol@kawerak.org | 907-443-4985 | n/a |
| Kelly Lyon | klyon@kawerak.org | |||
| Stebbins Community Association | Jacinta Martin | tc.wbb@kawerak.org | 907-934-2393 | n/a |
| Zoe Kobuk | zkobuk@kawerak.org | |||
| Native Village of Saint Michael | Paula Myomick | tc.smk@kawerak.org | 907-923-2304 | 907-933-1064 907-933-1112 |
| Native Village of Teller | Wesley Okbaok | tc.tla@kawerak.org | 907-642-3381 | 907-643-0030 |
| Native Village of Unalakleet | Velma Johnson | tc.unk@kawerak.org | 907-624-3622 | n/a |
| Native Village of Wales | Gregory Oxereok | tc.waa@kawerak.org | 907-664-3062 | 907-634-0171 |
| Rachel Seetook | rseetook@kawerak.org | |||
| Native Village of White Mountain | Dorothy Barr | tc.wmo@kawerak.org | 907-638-3651 | n/a |
| Sean Bergamaschi | sbergamaschi@kawerak.org |
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.