While speaking at the Alaska Federation of Natives Convention in Fairbanks on Thursday, Alaska's Governor Sean Parnell announced a statewide education initiative that would would digitally link teachers, courses and students across the state. The governor also awarded the Shirley Demientieff Award, and announced the state's a proposal to enter into agreements with tribal courts.

“Every Alaskan child, including those in rural communities, deserves access to a world-class education,” Governor Parnell said. “It is time for bold solutions, and my administration is committed to going big into digital learning over the next five years to ensure all of Alaska’s children have access to the best teachers available. By using a small studio with cameras and computers in one location, and technology in a rural classroom, for example, teachers can deliver higher quality and more diverse classes to our students.”

The initiative would bring Alaska’s best teachers directly to students through interactive, digital learning in a five-year project utilizing a distance learning model which would prioritize middle and high school math and science courses.

Also, durting his appearance at the AFN convention, Parnell awarded the Shirley Demientieff Award for advocacy on behalf of Alaska Native women and children. This year’s award went to H. Sally Smith from Dillingham.

Smith serves on the board of directors for the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and was previously the chair of the National Indian Health Board of Directors. “Stories of Sally caring for Alaskans abound,” Governor Parnell said. “Yet she will not let me recount them. That’s because, I think, she believes kindness and charity are found throughout the Alaska Native community, and she knows of many in this very room who stand in defense of the weak, shelter the needy, and feed the hungry.

Smith’s son, Jack, accepted the award on his mother’s behalf.

Also during his address to AFN, Parnell announced that the state is considering entering into agreements with tribal courts in an effort to more fully address alcohol and drug abuse, domestic violence and suicide in the native community.

“I recently met with members of the AFN Board, and we agreed that tribes can often provide local, culturally-relevant justice services,” Governor Parnell said. “We came to the conclusion that the constitutional rights of both victims and alleged offenders would be protected in tribal courts.”

The state, through the Department of Law, proposes allowing tribal courts to process certain alcohol and domestic violence offenses. In these cases, defendants could choose a tribal civil proceeding, which could result in tribal remedies. If the offender does not consent, the case would go to the Alaska State Troopers for screening and potential prosecution.

The proposal also includes a memorandum of understanding between the state and cities that would allow sentencing for alcohol possession to be handled through community panels. Such panels could include members from a traditional village council, the city council, or a borough assembly, and could issue community service punishments for violations of the city’s alcohol possession laws.