BIA sends nearly $800,000 to five Alaska tribal governments, most of it road money

The Bureau of Indian Affairs made five awards this month totaling about $794,000 to Alaska tribal governments: three for highway planning and construction, one a consolidated tribal government contract and one tribal courts. All five are classified as direct payments, the database's term for non-reimbursable aid for a specified use, and all are new awards, not changes to older ones.

The largest, $278,621, went Sept. 9 to the Ohogamiut Tribal Council in Marshall for fiscal 2026 maintenance under the highway program, with a performance period, the window for spending it, running through Dec. 31, 2030. The Native Village of Nightmute received $250,000 on Sept. 15 for FY26 design funds under the same program, also through Dec. 31, 2030.

The Kasigluk Traditional Elders Council received $167,449 on Sept. 4 under the Consolidated Tribal Government Program, which lets roughly 275 tribal entities nationwide combine compatible contracts into one funding vehicle, through Dec. 31, 2028. The Salamatof Tribal Council in Kenai received $88,548 on Sept. 3 for tribal courts, also through 2028. The Native Village of Goodnews Bay received $9,703 on Sept. 5, booked against fiscal 2023 and 2024 highway obligations under program codes 6V1 and 66V.

The awards appear as rows on USAspending.gov, which lags actual awards by two to six weeks.