Uploaded November 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Roughly 500 miles Southwest of Anchorage, Alaska, the Yup'ik village of Toksook Bay faces the Bering Sea on the coast of Nelson Island, called Qaluyaaq by the residents who speak Yugtun. The small subsistence village has been grappling with grief and a lack of mental health resources for young people after they finish school.
This spring, high school juniors and seniors at the Nelson Island School partnered with the Lower Kuskokwim School District and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's Alaska Chapter to lead the residents in community-wide events focused on hope and healing.
#mentalhealthmatters #indigenous #alaska
Watch their story in this documentary short from @PBS and @pbsdigitalstudios
Appearing
Charlene Arrsauyaq Bosco
Everett Nurauq Sipary
Jacob Minegtuli Nicholai
Jim Biela
Video by
Valerie Lake
Matthew Faubion
Joey Mendolia
United States Census Bureau
Translation by
Catherine Moses
Rosale Lincoln
Music by
Universal Production Music
Special thanks to
Nunakauyarmiut Tribe
The community of Nunakauyaq (Toksook Bay)
Nelson Island School Staff and Students
Lower Kuskokwim School District
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention - Alaska Chapter
Dustin Morris, AFSP-Alaska Chapter
Dennis Lasley, AFSP-Alaska Chapter
John Sharify, University of Alaska Anchorage
James Biela
Anne Hillman
Linda Isaac
Production support provided by
The Alaska Mental Health Trust @MentalHealthTrust
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation @RWJF
INDIE ALASKA is an original video series produced by Alaska Public Media in partnership with PBS Digital Studios. The videos capture the diverse and colorful lifestyles of everyday Alaskans at work and at play. Together, these stories present a fresh and authentic look at living in Alaska.
Click on the Subscribe button above to get notified when new episodes are available.
Consider supporting Alaska Public Media and ensure storytelling like INDIE ALASKA continues into the future. Make a donation today at: alaskapublic.org/donate
Roughly 500 miles Southwest of Anchorage, Alaska, the Yup'ik village of Toksook Bay faces the Bering Sea on the coast of Nelson Island, called Qaluyaaq by the residents who speak Yugtun. The small subsistence village has been grappling with grief and a lack of mental health resources for young people after they finish school.
This spring, high school juniors and seniors at the Nelson Island School partnered with the Lower Kuskokwim School District and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's Alaska Chapter to lead the residents in community-wide events focused on hope and healing.
#mentalhealthmatters #indigenous #alaska
Watch their story in this documentary short from @PBS and @pbsdigitalstudios
Appearing
Charlene Arrsauyaq Bosco
Everett Nurauq Sipary
Jacob Minegtuli Nicholai
Jim Biela
Video by
Valerie Lake
Matthew Faubion
Joey Mendolia
United States Census Bureau
Translation by
Catherine Moses
Rosale Lincoln
Music by
Universal Production Music
Special thanks to
Nunakauyarmiut Tribe
The community of Nunakauyaq (Toksook Bay)
Nelson Island School Staff and Students
Lower Kuskokwim School District
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention - Alaska Chapter
Dustin Morris, AFSP-Alaska Chapter
Dennis Lasley, AFSP-Alaska Chapter
John Sharify, University of Alaska Anchorage
James Biela
Anne Hillman
Linda Isaac
Production support provided by
The Alaska Mental Health Trust @MentalHealthTrust
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation @RWJF
INDIE ALASKA is an original video series produced by Alaska Public Media in partnership with PBS Digital Studios. The videos capture the diverse and colorful lifestyles of everyday Alaskans at work and at play. Together, these stories present a fresh and authentic look at living in Alaska.
Click on the Subscribe button above to get notified when new episodes are available.
Consider supporting Alaska Public Media and ensure storytelling like INDIE ALASKA continues into the future. Make a donation today at: alaskapublic.org/donate
