Alaska

Although Alaska Natives comprise less than 20% of the state’s population, they suffer more than half of all reported sexual assaults committed in the entire state (54%). The Alaska Department of Public Safety’s official estimate is that an Alaska Native woman is sexually assaulted every 18 hours somewhere in the state.

These alarming statistics do not tell the full story.  The actual rate of sexual violence estimated by professionals serving Alaska Native sexual assault survivors is frequently cited as 90% or greater for Alaska Native women and over 50% for men.  In many Native villages, it can be difficult to locate one woman who has not experienced sexual violence.

The overwhelming majority of sex crimes committed against both male and female Alaska Natives are never reported to law enforcement.  Lack of meaningful access to healthcare, justice systems, advocacy, safe shelter and social services along with stigma and shame often serve as strong deterrents to reporting.

Sexual abuse and violence against Alaska Native women is experienced across the lifespan and in a multitude of settings: at home, in schools, in the workplace, in the military, at places of worship, in assisted living, in cities, and in Villages. 

Barriers to safety are particularly significant for Alaska Native victims in rural areas:

• Of the State’s 229 federally recognized Tribes, 200 Alaska Native Villages are located in extremely rural, isolated parts of state.
• Many Alaska Native Villages are only accessible via air or water transportation.  Extreme weather conditions frequently cause cancellations of any travel to or from Villages. 
• There is a severe shortage of law enforcement officers in these remote, isolated areas. Only 39% of Alaska Native Villages are served by locally posted, Alaska State trained law enforcement.  The remaining 61% of Villages must sometimes wait days for an officer to fly in from a larger community.
• Victim services, emergency sexual assault healthcare and sexual assault forensic examinations are unavailable in most of these small, remote Villages.  Victims must often travel long distances and at great expense to urban areas to obtain any treatment or services. 
• The resources found on the tabs below are intended to provide support, education and information to professionals serving Alaska Native villages, as well as other interested community leaders, activists, victims and family members.