Mountain Village is an Alaska Native town in the middle of nowhere. One woman is the town’s only police officer and she alone is responsible for the safety of everyone there. Her track record is perfect until one day when she responds to a call that changes everything.
This story discusses suicide, violence, and contains strong language. Sensitive listeners, please be advised.
We can’t thank Anna Bill and Jim and Eunice Bryan enough for sharing their stories with us. We also want to thank Cathy Moses and the Mountain Village Tribal Council for their time and patience. Additional thanks to Francine Chiklak, Johanna Eurich, Steve Hiemel, Shane Iverson, Anna Rose MacArthur, Lori Townsend, and Anna Walters.
In addition to Anna Bill’s work, Mountain Village is tackling its suicide and public safety crises with grassroots community programs, as well as a tribal court system that focuses on restorative justice. You can learn more about them here and here. A version of this story was first reported for NPR affiliate KYUK in Bethel, Alaska in 2018. If you’re interested in learning more about rural Alaska and its public safety crisis, we recommend following KYUK and KNBA’s coverage, as well as ProPublica’s Lawless series.
Produced by Teresa Cotsirilos, original score by Renzo Gorrio
If you or a loved one is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention hotline at 1-800-273-8255.
Snap Classic - Season 14 - Episode 12
Tau = 10.8 from This is Love
Vote for El Hottie
Winning Colors - Snap Classic
Hounded from Spooked
The Trials of Lt. McFadden
Belly of the Beast - Snap Classic
Transcendent - Snap Classic
The Cannonball Run
Subterfuge - Snap Classic
Father Forgive Them
Weight For It
Money Truck - Snap Classic
New Folsom from On Our Watch
Photo Session
Genghis Khan
The Pink Palace - Snap Classic
No Good Turn
Hyphy Kids Got Trauma
Shake, Rattle, and Roll - Snap Classic
Con Man Daddy - Snap Classic
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Stuff You Should Know
On Being with Krista Tippett
TED Radio Hour
The Turn of the Screw
The Story of Mankind
Planet Money
The Dinner Party Download