Alaska Film Archives

[The Winter Bear Project promo and documentary]
[The Winter Bear Project promo and documentary]
This is a documentary about The Winter Bear Project i. It includes scenes from a play, associated workshops, and interviews with Brian Wescott, Jessica McGinty, Jeremy Raychel, Anne Hanley, Brittany Smith, Yvonne Wright Adams, Paul Mountain, Debra Naaqtuuq Dommek, Martha Demoski, Clara Peters, and Sidney C. Huntington, with narration by Therisa Bennett. The Winter Bear Project addresses the issue of suicide among young Alaska Natives and attempts to curb the growing trend. The related promo explains The Winter Bear Project and features interviews with Brian Wescott, Jessica McGinty, Paul Mountain, and Martha Demoski. The Winter Bear is a play that tells the story of an Alaska Native teenager who rises above his past traumas to become a leader with the help of mentor Sidney Huntington. The Winter Bear Project combines the play with outreach developed in cooperation with rural Alaskan communities. In September 2014, The Winter Bear Project traveled to six Alaskan villages along the Yukon and Koyukuk Rivers to deliver their message. In the documentary, residents from Ruby, Nulato, and Kaltag share their thoughts on the play’s impact.