Tribal Courts

Misson: Seeking Justice through the use of Customary Law and Traditional Practices and processes.

Goal: The goal of the Tribal court is to provide a user friendly, culturally appropriate forum for tribal citizens to address their justice needs.

Vision: In Order to affirm our sovereign powers to self-government and self determination, to preserve, protect and build upon our unique and distinctive culture and traditions – our vision is to establish a judicial system for the resolution of disputes in order to : 

1. Provide for the fair, efficient and culturally appropriate administration of justice whereby conflicts are resolved constant with tribal traditions and customs; and

2. Exercise jurisdiction over all maters to ensure that the sovereignty of the ONC tribe is recognized and to protect the welfare of tribal members; and

3. Provide all affected persons with a fair, prompt and impartial hearing so as to afford all persons who appear before ONC Tribal Court all rights guaranteed by the constitution of the ONC Tribe.

Overview

The Judicial power of the ONC Tribe shall be vested in the ONC Tribal Court, Comprised of the Supreme Court and the Trial Court , and such other courts as the tribal council may later establish.    The judicial power of the ONC Tribe Consitution, statutes and resolutions or applicable to the ONC tribe, and the customs and traditions of the Yup’ik People and to any matter delegated to the Tribe by any state of federal law or agency.

The Governing body, ONC council shall consist of members who are elected by majority vote of qualified members of the Orutsararmiut Native Tribe at their annual meeting.  Except as otherwise provided in the Consitution (hyperlink to constitution) , all powers of Orutsararmiut Native Tribe shall be vested in the ONC to enact laws establishing and governing a justice system , including setting up an independent tribal court or other conflict-resolution mechanism and law enforcements and to Represent and protect Orutsararmiut Native Tribe in all matters that concerns the peace, safety, health and general welfare of Orutsararmiut Native Tribe and to make decisions not inconsistent with or contrary to the Constitution (hyperlink).

Contact Information

Federally Recognized Name: Native Village of Bethel Orutsararmiut Traditional Government

Physical Address: 117 Alex Hately Dr.     

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 406 

                 Bethel, AK 99559                 

Main Phone: 907-543-2608  Fax: 907-543-2639 

Email/Website: www.nativecouncil.org 

Email us at: tribalcourts@nativecouncil.org