Declaration of Mike Williams, Sr., Akiak Native Community — Chehalis Reservation v. Mnuchin (April 20, 2020)

Summary

Mike Williams, Sr., Chief of the Akiak Native Community, declares in support of the plaintiffs in Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, et al. v. Mnuchin. The declaration states that Akiak has 535 enrolled tribal members, that the Akiak IRA Council declared a Public Health Emergency on March 26th, 2020, and that Akiak is accessible only by air and water. It says the nearest hospital is in Bethel, Alaska, approximately 30 air miles and 60 land miles away, and that the community's only funding is from its small gaming enterprise, which is closed. It states that Akiak has submitted the certification form through the Department of Treasury web portal to be eligible for a portion of the $8 billion set aside for Tribal governments under CARES Act Title V.

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“Declaration of Mike Williams, Sr., Akiak Native Community — Chehalis Reservation v. Mnuchin (April 20, 2020).” Original at storage.courtlistener.com. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/declaration-akiak-native-communit-confederated-tribes-of-the-chehalis-e6c054d2a5/, SHA-256 729b20e2c25144298af143783e6ad0a1262b23c54a3dea3ddf3cc194ecfb9377.

Full text

Case 1:20-cv-01002-APM Document 3-1 Filed 04/20/20 Page 1 of 3

7 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
8

9
CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF THE CHEHALIS Case No.: _1:20-cv-01002__________
RESERVATION
10 420 Howanut Road
P.O. Box 536
11 Oakville, WA 98568 DECLARATION OF MIKE WILLIAMS, SR.

12 TULALIP TRIBES
6406 Marine Drive
13 Tulalip, WA 98271

14 HOULTON BAND OF MALISEET INDIANS
88 Bell Road
15 Littleton, ME 04730
16 AKIAK NATIVE COMMUNITY
P.O. Box 52127
17
Akiak, AK 99552
18
ASA’CARSARMIUT TRIBE
19 P.O. Box 32249
Mountain Village, AK 99632
20
ALEUT COMMUNITY OF ST. PAUL ISLAND
21 2050 Venia Minor Road
P.O. Box 86
22 St. Paul Island, AK 99660

23 Plaintiffs,

25
DECLARATION OF MIKE WILLIAMS, SR. Kanji & Katzen, P.L.L.C.
– Page 1 811 1st Ave., Suite 630
Seattle, WA 98104
206-344-8100
Case 1:20-cv-01002-APM Document 3-1 Filed 04/20/20 Page 2 of 3

1 v.

2 STEVEN MNUCHIN, SECRETARY, UNITED
STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
3 1500 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20220
4
Defendant.
5

I, Mike Williams, Sr., declare the following on the basis of personal knowledge to which I am
7
competent to testify:
8
1. I am the Chief of the Akiak Native Community. Akiak has 535 enrolled tribal members
9

and 29.16 acres of fee lands located in Akiak, Alaska.
10

2. On March 26th, 2020 the Akiak IRA Council declared a Public Health Emergency on
11

behalf of the Akiak Native Community Tribal Members, which included the closure of
12
our gaming operations, cancelation of recreational activities, and closure of our
13
community from non-essential travel.
14
3. Akiak is located along the Kuskokwim river and is only accessible by air and water. The
15
community of Akiak has one local health clinic with a trained health aide but due to her
16
own medical issues, we have gone for days without health care services. The closest
17
hospital with physicians and doctors with respiratory relief and testing supplies is in
18
Bethel, Alaska, which is approximately 30 air miles and 60 land miles away. It is only
19
accessible by air at this time.
20
4. In response to COVID-19, the Akiak Native Community has provided water and sewer
21
services to those who have disconnected services due to non-payment. We will only be
22
able to provide the service to the community for another month. We have distributed
23
cleaning supplies and have started a food bank to provide for families in need. Without
24

25
DECLARATION OF MIKE WILLIAMS, SR. Kanji & Katzen, P.L.L.C.
– Page 2 811 1st Ave., Suite 630
Seattle, WA 98104
206-344-8100
Case 1:20-cv-01002-APM Document 3-1 Filed 04/20/20 Page 3 of 3

1 income from any source we will be unable to provide any more services, at this time. We

2 have identified a couple of places to use in case we need to quarantine families, but they

3 need to be prepared for use, and additional funds would accomplish this. At this time, our

4 clinic does not have testing capability.

5 5. The only funding we get to help our community is from our small gaming enterprise, and

6 with its closure, it has created a financial hardship for our tribal government.

7 6. Akiak Native Community has submitted the certification form through the Department of

8 Treasury web portal necessary to participate in the disbursement of CARES Act Title V

9 funding, so that it is eligible to receive a portion of the $8 billion set aside for Tribal

10 governments.

11 7. Without receiving the financial relief under the CARES Act Title V funding to tribal

12 governments, Akiak Native Community is at risk of not being able to provide essential

13 government services to its members and community as a result of COVID-19.

15 I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed on April 17,
2020.
16

18
___________________________________
19
Mike Williams, Sr.
20

25
DECLARATION OF MIKE WILLIAMS, SR. Kanji & Katzen, P.L.L.C.
– Page 3 811 1st Ave., Suite 630
Seattle, WA 98104
206-344-8100

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