'Taking back control: how a remote island in Alaska tackled domestic abuse' diff viewer (0/1)

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Taking back control: how a remote island in Alaska tackled domestic abuse	Taking back control: how a remote island in Alaska tackled domestic abuse
2018-02-08 11:35:08 UTC	2018-02-08 17:07:23 UTC (about 6 hours later)
When Stacy Bourdukofsky’s abusive ex-husband touched down on the small island where they live to stand trial for strangling his girlfriend and whacking a man in the head with a bat, she was waiting to board the outbound flight on the same jet.	When Stacy Bourdukofsky’s abusive ex-husband touched down on the small island where they live to stand trial for strangling his girlfriend and whacking a man in the head with a bat, she was waiting to board the outbound flight on the same jet.
She’d gone to extreme measures to escape him in the past, and she wasn’t about to let him unnerve her this time around.	She’d gone to extreme measures to escape him in the past, and she wasn’t about to let him unnerve her this time around.
“My first marriage was a nightmare. It was constant drinking, and it was always beatings. I would end up with severe black eyes to where I couldn’t see out of one eye,” said Bourdukofsky, 37, a no-nonsense mom who hunts reindeer and coaches basketball. “I had no support. I had nobody to talk to back then.”	“My first marriage was a nightmare. It was constant drinking, and it was always beatings. I would end up with severe black eyes to where I couldn’t see out of one eye,” said Bourdukofsky, 37, a no-nonsense mom who hunts reindeer and coaches basketball. “I had no support. I had nobody to talk to back then.”
She had dealt with Nekita Melovidov, 47, for the better part of her adult life. She’d gotten as far away from him as one can get living on St Paul, an isolated volcanic speck of land surrounded by the Bering Sea, almost halfway between Russia and Alaska. Survival meant abandoning her old life, and, for a time, her children.	She had dealt with Nekita Melovidov, 47, for the better part of her adult life. She’d gotten as far away from him as one can get living on St Paul, an isolated volcanic speck of land surrounded by the Bering Sea, almost halfway between Russia and Alaska. Survival meant abandoning her old life, and, for a time, her children.
“I had enough. I packed up my stuff, walked straight out the door and never looked back,” said Bourdukofsky. She quit drinking, remarried, and started a new career.	“I had enough. I packed up my stuff, walked straight out the door and never looked back,” said Bourdukofsky. She quit drinking, remarried, and started a new career.
Shelter housing and counselors helped her slowly piece her life back together. She now works as a victim advocate – a calm head in a moment of need, a human link to a better life.	Shelter housing and counselors helped her slowly piece her life back together. She now works as a victim advocate – a calm head in a moment of need, a human link to a better life.
“At first for a victim, it’s just actually really hard to talk about [being abused],” Bourdukofsky said. “Telling somebody that you believe them and listening to their story could make a huge difference.”	“At first for a victim, it’s just actually really hard to talk about [being abused],” Bourdukofsky said. “Telling somebody that you believe them and listening to their story could make a huge difference.”
Generations of sustained traumas – slavery, dislocation, oppression – still hurt the Aleut Community of St Paul Island, a federally recognized Indian tribe. This manifests as child abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault and addiction. To fight this, the tribe took matters into its own hands.	Generations of sustained traumas – slavery, dislocation, oppression – still hurt the Aleut Community of St Paul Island, a federally recognized Indian tribe. This manifests as child abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault and addiction. To fight this, the tribe took matters into its own hands.
The key to social change required one crucial component: financial self-determination.	The key to social change required one crucial component: financial self-determination.
St Paul now has domestic violence shelters, social workers and culturally relevant programs for healing. It has the buildings, people and authority to meaningfully and quickly assist individuals in crisis. It’s doing things differently: cross-deputizing city police to enforce tribal law; making rape kits available on-island to make the forensic examinations process as speedy as possible, and hopefully, lead to more prosecutions.	St Paul now has domestic violence shelters, social workers and culturally relevant programs for healing. It has the buildings, people and authority to meaningfully and quickly assist individuals in crisis. It’s doing things differently: cross-deputizing city police to enforce tribal law; making rape kits available on-island to make the forensic examinations process as speedy as possible, and hopefully, lead to more prosecutions.
Both are firsts in the state of Alaska.	Both are firsts in the state of Alaska.
It has also given community members more choices. Local counselors are available. But so are off-island providers who routinely travel to St Paul. A person can get help from whomever they feel most comfortable with. Therapy can be office time behind a closed door, or it might take the form of a craft project or a walk on the beach.	It has also given community members more choices. Local counselors are available. But so are off-island providers who routinely travel to St Paul. A person can get help from whomever they feel most comfortable with. Therapy can be office time behind a closed door, or it might take the form of a craft project or a walk on the beach.
“All these people are trying to figure out how to help rural Alaska. I think the way to help them is to give them their money,” said Patrick Baker, the tribe’s executive director, during an interview at the tribe’s Anchorage office. “Give them the funds that they can start building with.”	“All these people are trying to figure out how to help rural Alaska. I think the way to help them is to give them their money,” said Patrick Baker, the tribe’s executive director, during an interview at the tribe’s Anchorage office. “Give them the funds that they can start building with.”
•••	•••
About 500 people, mostly Alaska Natives, live on St Paul Island. The tribe estimates as many as 90% of the relationships on the island expose individuals to verbal or physical abuse.	About 500 people, mostly Alaska Natives, live on St Paul Island. The tribe estimates as many as 90% of the relationships on the island expose individuals to verbal or physical abuse.
National data shows about two out of three American Indian and Alaska Native women experience domestic violence, sexual and physical assaults in their lifetime.	National data shows about two out of three American Indian and Alaska Native women experience domestic violence, sexual and physical assaults in their lifetime.
Kristie Traver, victim services division manager for the tribe, believes rates on St Paul are higher. Last year, officers responded to about 160 calls involving domestic violence and assault, according to Zachery Lamblez, St Paul’s chief of police.	Kristie Traver, victim services division manager for the tribe, believes rates on St Paul are higher. Last year, officers responded to about 160 calls involving domestic violence and assault, according to Zachery Lamblez, St Paul’s chief of police.
Aleuts first settled the island as slaves to Russian fur traders. When Russia sold Alaska to the US, the US government maintained the for-profit commercial fur trade and took the Aleut laborers on as wards. During the second world war, villagers were evacuated off the island for two years, transferred to abandoned canneries and mines rife with hunger and illness.	Aleuts first settled the island as slaves to Russian fur traders. When Russia sold Alaska to the US, the US government maintained the for-profit commercial fur trade and took the Aleut laborers on as wards. During the second world war, villagers were evacuated off the island for two years, transferred to abandoned canneries and mines rife with hunger and illness.
Then, in the 1980s, word spread: the US government would leave St Paul.	Then, in the 1980s, word spread: the US government would leave St Paul.
“There was a lot of optimism that we can be the rulers of our own destiny,” explained Amos Philemonoff, 48, a tall, empathetic man who spends time as a lay reader in St Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox church.	“There was a lot of optimism that we can be the rulers of our own destiny,” explained Amos Philemonoff, 48, a tall, empathetic man who spends time as a lay reader in St Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox church.
Surrounded by plentiful fishing grounds and home to some of the world’s largest breeding grounds for fur seals and seabirds, the island had promise. Still, Philemonoff detected a widespread sense of gloom. Previously a government-run town, people who’d suffered generations of trauma were left to fend for themselves. “All of a sudden we didn’t have an economy any more,” Philemonoff said.	Surrounded by plentiful fishing grounds and home to some of the world’s largest breeding grounds for fur seals and seabirds, the island had promise. Still, Philemonoff detected a widespread sense of gloom. Previously a government-run town, people who’d suffered generations of trauma were left to fend for themselves. “All of a sudden we didn’t have an economy any more,” Philemonoff said.
They’d survived centuries of hardship, but putting an end to the pain that tribal members inflicted on each other was an altogether different type of survival, one that would require patience, political assertiveness and innovation.	They’d survived centuries of hardship, but putting an end to the pain that tribal members inflicted on each other was an altogether different type of survival, one that would require patience, political assertiveness and innovation.
Before Philemonoff found his political voice, and before he married his current wife, he lived a fisherman’s life. He worked hard pulling black cod, halibut and crab from the Bering Sea. Off the boats, he played hard, drank too much, and got too loud – familiar territory for a man who’d grown up watching families across the island struggle with alcoholism and domestic violence.	Before Philemonoff found his political voice, and before he married his current wife, he lived a fisherman’s life. He worked hard pulling black cod, halibut and crab from the Bering Sea. Off the boats, he played hard, drank too much, and got too loud – familiar territory for a man who’d grown up watching families across the island struggle with alcoholism and domestic violence.
A drunk driving charge landed Philemonoff in treatment, which he received off-island and paid for through the support of a handful of local entities. While there, he realized alcoholism and substance abuse hid old wounds. Convinced that people can transform their lives, and that services should be easier to access, Philemonoff used his growing influence to advocate for more of everything.	A drunk driving charge landed Philemonoff in treatment, which he received off-island and paid for through the support of a handful of local entities. While there, he realized alcoholism and substance abuse hid old wounds. Convinced that people can transform their lives, and that services should be easier to access, Philemonoff used his growing influence to advocate for more of everything.
More money. More programs. More access. More success.	More money. More programs. More access. More success.
“I truly believe anybody, and everybody can turn their life around, and I never give up hope on anybody. I just strive to keep helping the best I can,” Philemonoff said, describing himself as the epitome of second chances.	“I truly believe anybody, and everybody can turn their life around, and I never give up hope on anybody. I just strive to keep helping the best I can,” Philemonoff said, describing himself as the epitome of second chances.
St Paul managed to eventually get those things – buildings, services, social workers – because years ago it strategized to wrest control of its money away from regional entities.	St Paul managed to eventually get those things – buildings, services, social workers – because years ago it strategized to wrest control of its money away from regional entities.
The Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975 gave St Paul the authority it needed to self-manage federal funds designated for housing, education, healthcare, child welfare, courts, transportation and the environment.	The Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975 gave St Paul the authority it needed to self-manage federal funds designated for housing, education, healthcare, child welfare, courts, transportation and the environment.
Where before St Paul received about one out of every four dollars meant for it, 70 to 80% of the money now stays on the island, said Baker.	Where before St Paul received about one out of every four dollars meant for it, 70 to 80% of the money now stays on the island, said Baker.
In 1995 the tribe had five employees and ran a bar. Now, it’s bringing in over $10m a year, employs 68 people and pays out nearly $3m in wages. The tribe’s most recent bold move – transferring its healthcare from one regional non-profit to another – freed up $1.5m, money it’s pouring directly into programs to improve quality of life on the island.	In 1995 the tribe had five employees and ran a bar. Now, it’s bringing in over $10m a year, employs 68 people and pays out nearly $3m in wages. The tribe’s most recent bold move – transferring its healthcare from one regional non-profit to another – freed up $1.5m, money it’s pouring directly into programs to improve quality of life on the island.
Financial self-determination has allowed the tribe to provide two domestic violence shelters, build three duplexes, purchase 18 homes and renovate 81 living spaces for local low-income families. It’s spiffed up a youth center, a community arts center, trained carpenters, paid to house the community’s spiritual leader, Father John Kudrin, a Russian Orthodox priest and offers microloans.	Financial self-determination has allowed the tribe to provide two domestic violence shelters, build three duplexes, purchase 18 homes and renovate 81 living spaces for local low-income families. It’s spiffed up a youth center, a community arts center, trained carpenters, paid to house the community’s spiritual leader, Father John Kudrin, a Russian Orthodox priest and offers microloans.
It’s implemented a wellness court, sobriety programs and expanded the services available for victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse. In 2017, the tribe acquired the local grocery store, which should bring in an additional $3.5m in annual revenue.	It’s implemented a wellness court, sobriety programs and expanded the services available for victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse. In 2017, the tribe acquired the local grocery store, which should bring in an additional $3.5m in annual revenue.
“I think my grandfather would be extremely proud,” Philemonoff said.	“I think my grandfather would be extremely proud,” Philemonoff said.
•••	•••
With its financial self-determination solidified, the tribe is focusing on individual self-determination.	With its financial self-determination solidified, the tribe is focusing on individual self-determination.
To that end, police officers from the City of St Paul, a different governing body than the tribal government, have recently been cross-deputized to enforce tribal law. Final agreements are also being made to allow volunteer community members to collect court-admissable evidence in sexual assault cases. The new program could be a game changer for prosecutions.	To that end, police officers from the City of St Paul, a different governing body than the tribal government, have recently been cross-deputized to enforce tribal law. Final agreements are also being made to allow volunteer community members to collect court-admissable evidence in sexual assault cases. The new program could be a game changer for prosecutions.
The tribal sexual assault forensic examiners, known as “Safestars” – volunteers trained by the Southwest Center for Law and Policy – are among only six such programs nationwide. With portable rape kits, victims can receive exams in their home, a clinic or another place where they feel comfortable and safe. Previously, if a survivor wanted evidence collected, she or he could face excruciatingly long waits.	The tribal sexual assault forensic examiners, known as “Safestars” – volunteers trained by the Southwest Center for Law and Policy – are among only six such programs nationwide. With portable rape kits, victims can receive exams in their home, a clinic or another place where they feel comfortable and safe. Previously, if a survivor wanted evidence collected, she or he could face excruciatingly long waits.
Waiting for a flight out. Waiting days to shower. Waiting to get the exam over with. Waiting sometimes so long that there was no longer any point in going through with it, as forensic evidence collected more than three to four days after an assault is considered unusable.	Waiting for a flight out. Waiting days to shower. Waiting to get the exam over with. Waiting sometimes so long that there was no longer any point in going through with it, as forensic evidence collected more than three to four days after an assault is considered unusable.