Kawerak

Kawerak
Name	Kawerak
Type	Nonprofit regional nonprofit corporation
Founded	1979
Area served	Bering Strait Region
Headquarters	Nome, Alaska
Mission	Support Inupiaq and Yupik communities in the Bering Strait region

Kawerak is a regional nonprofit corporation serving the Bering Strait Region of northwestern Alaska. Established in 1979, it provides a range of programs for multiple Indigenous communities across the Norton Sound, Diomede Islands, and coastal villages including Shishmaref, Gambell, and Savoonga. Kawerak operates within a network of regional entities and federal agencies to support cultural continuity, health services, and economic initiatives for Inupiaq and Yupik populations.

History

Kawerak was formed in the aftermath of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act and the settlement of regional land claims, alongside corporations such as Bering Straits Native Corporation and regional organizations like Association of Village Council Presidents and Aleutian Pribilof Island Association. Early collaborations involved legal and administrative interactions with Bureau of Indian Affairs, Indian Health Service, and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Kawerak’s development paralleled efforts by leaders from communities including Shaktoolik, Unalakleet, Golovin, White Mountain, and Koyuk to secure funding through programs administered by Administration for Native Americans and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Organization and Governance

Kawerak operates under a board structure representing village stakeholders similar to regional bodies such as Tanana Chiefs Conference and Southcentral Foundation. It coordinates with tribal governments from villages like Teller and Brevig Mission and federal entities such as Health Resources and Services Administration for governance and compliance. The corporation maintains policy relationships with Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and legal counsel experienced with Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act agreements and Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act considerations.

Programs and Services

Kawerak administers programs across sectors comparable to initiatives by Northwest Arctic Borough organizations and tribal consortia like Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation. Services include behavioral health support linked to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration grants, early childhood programming similar to Head Start (United States), and elder services paralleling efforts by Alaska Commission on Aging. Kawerak manages workforce development in coordination with agencies such as U.S. Department of Labor and training partners like University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Cultural and Community Initiatives

Kawerak supports language preservation and cultural programs resonant with projects undertaken by Sealaska Heritage Institute and Alaska Native Heritage Center. Initiatives include traditional knowledge documentation akin to work by Alaska Humanities Forum and collaborations with researchers at institutions such as Smithsonian Institution, University of Washington, and Harvard University on Indigenous cultural studies. Festivals and cultural camps are organized with participation from community cultural leaders and elders from villages like Kivalina and Noatak.

Economic Development and Subsistence Support

Kawerak engages in economic development comparable to regional efforts by Rasmuson Foundation grantees and municipal entities such as Nome, Alaska. Programs assist local entrepreneurs and subsistence users with support similar to Alaska Small Business Development Center and initiatives coordinated with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Alaska Marine Highway System stakeholders. Subsistence management collaborations reflect work with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and Alaska Department of Fish and Game on issues affecting hunting and fishing in communities like Gambell and Savoonga.

Partnerships and Advocacy

Kawerak partners with national and regional organizations including National Congress of American Indians, Alaska Federation of Natives, and federal agencies such as Environmental Protection Agency and Federal Emergency Management Agency on climate resilience, public health, and infrastructure. Advocacy has involved policy engagement on Arctic issues alongside institutions like Arctic Council, Bureau of Land Management, and academic centers such as Columbia University’s Arctic research programs. Collaborative projects include emergency preparedness with United States Coast Guard and community planning with Denali Commission.

Facilities and Infrastructure

Kawerak maintains regional offices and operates facilities for program delivery in hub communities including Nome, Alaska and outlying villages. Infrastructure projects have been coordinated with funding agencies like U.S. Department of Transportation and Rural Utilities Service to improve housing and telecommunication links similar to projects led by Alaska Housing Finance Corporation and GCI. Facility management includes community centers, program classrooms, and storage for subsistence equipment, enabling partnerships with logistics providers such as Bering Air and research vessels used by NOAA.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in Alaska Category:Indigenous organizations in Alaska