Alaska Dispatch

According to the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, the US Justice Department announced Monday that the Alaska Native Women's Coalition will receive $154,000 to hire new staff and develop on-site training programs about local, state, and federal domestic violence resources. The program will begin in Nulato and in Hoonah, and the coalition will work in conjunction with the Alaska court system and the Alaska State Troopers. Compared to other ethnic groups, American Indian and Alaska Native women are seriously at-risk from physical and sexual violence. The funds are part of a $2.8 million federal recovery appropriation to combat tribal domestic violence. Read more here. We're happy something's being done, but the funds don't seem sufficient because this problem is so huge and stubborn. A 400-pound gorilla needs a pretty big tranquilizer dart.