Troopers assist in departure of school employees

Alaska State Troopers were contacted by the Lower Kuskokwim School District on October 28, 2022, at 4:00 pm, reporting that the school principal had locked herself in her office at the school after Kipnuk Tribal Police attempted to take her into custody by serving a banishment order for unknown reasons.

It was reported that local community members and Kipnuk Tribal Police Officers were inside the school as well as LKSD teacher housing searching for the school principal. Alaska State Troopers attempted to contact Kipnuk Tribal Police and Tribal leadership by telephone without success. The Kipnuk Tribal Police Department did not contact AST at any point. Troopers were unable to respond due to the lack of availability of aircraft. Troopers and the school district were in contact with the school principal who was able to return to her residence, where she remained for the night.

On October 29, 2022, at 1:15 pm, Alaska State Troopers arrived in Kipnuk. Upon arrival Kipnuk Tribal representatives and Tribal Police Officers had blocked the boardwalk from the airport to the village. Troopers were advised the Tribe was not allowing access to the village. Alaska State Troopers were able to deescalate the situation and travel to the school. Troopers met with the principal and school staff to determine what was happening. Troopers were able to determine that no crimes had been committed and worked with the school district to facilitate assisting those that wanted to leave the village in doing so.

The principal along with other school staff chose to leave and were flown out of the village on two aircraft chartered by the school district. No threats were made towards Troopers or school district staff. The District Attorney’s Office has been notified of the events; no criminal charges have been filed at this time.

Questions about the status of the school should be directed to the Lower Kuskokwim School District at 907-543-4800. Questions about the actions of the Tribe or TPOs should be directed to the Kipnuk Tribe or Tribal Police Department.

On October 4th, 2022, the Kipnuk Traditional Council wrote a Letter of Removal and Banishment to the Site Administrator LaDorothy Lightfoot encouraging her to leave her position as Kipnuk Site Administrator at Chief Paul Memorial School. She had been there since 2013.

The letter is signed and certified by the Native Village of Kipnuk Tribal Council.