LAPUSH — The Quileute tribe was awarded $667,131 in federal funds to improve its justice system and other government programs.
The grant was part of $13.5 million given to tribes throughout Washington state, and $127 million throughout the country, said the office of Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Mountlake Terrace, in a statement.
The grants to the Quileute include $92,131 to develop and enhance the tribal justice system and $575,000 for other tribal government programs.
The tribal council will comment at a later date on the specifics of how the money will be spent, said tribal spokeswoman Jackie Jacobs.
President Barack Obama signed the Tribal Law and Order Act into law July 29.
Grants were given to the tribes earlier this month.
“We have worked hard to try and address the security and justice needs of Indian Country, most recently with the enactment of the Tribal Law and Order Act this past July,” Cantwell said in her statement.
“The grants . . . will assist tribal governments in implementing these important provisions of the new law, which help tribes provide protection to their members and foster a sense of justice and freedom from fear on Indian reservations.”
