Katie Basile

Photojournalist and Documentary Storyteller

Until We Get Through This - KYUK

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Location: Bethel

Biography: Katie Basile is a photojournalist, documentary photographer and filmmaker with a focus on her home, the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta region of Alaska. Katie began her career as a teaching artist and has more than a decade of experience collaborating on... MORE

'Until We Get Through This' is documentation of the year 2020 in the rural Alaskan town of Bethel. Bethel is located 400-miles from the nearest road system and only accessible by air. Despite the community's isolation, the events of 2020 created a parallel experience to others around the world. Shot for KYUK, Public Media for Alaska's Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.

Alex Kim, owner of Chopstix Sus...rch 31, 2020 in Bethel, Alaska.

Alex Kim, owner of Chopstix Sushi Restaurant, says he may have to return to Korea if business doesn't pick-up. Bethel restaurants are in peril following mandates that restrict business to delivery and pick-up orders amidst the COVID-19 outbreak. March 31, 2020 in Bethel, Alaska.

School children and their guard...to slow the spread of COVID-19.

School children and their guardians picked up meals from bus stops around town on March 23, 2020. Schools across Alaska are closed following a state mandate put in place to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Bethel residents head out to ch...avirus pandemic on May 6, 2020.

Bethel residents head out to check on elderly relatives amidst the 2020 Kuskokwim River break-up flood and coronavirus pandemic on May 6, 2020.

Bethel Elder Esther Green refle...ril 30, 2020 in Bethel, Alaska.

Bethel Elder Esther Green reflects on past pandemics and lessons learned through stories passed down in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. April 30, 2020 in Bethel, Alaska.

Eula David remembers stories th...ut past epidemics. May 7, 2020.

Eula David remembers stories that her mother and grandmother told her about past epidemics. May 7, 2020.

Phillip Wilson leaves the Bethe...er to Napaskiak on May 6, 2020.

Phillip Wilson leaves the Bethel seawall in search of a break in the ice flow where he can cross the Kuskokwim and head downriver to Napaskiak on May 6, 2020.

People watch the ice flow downr... River break-up on May 4, 2020.

People watch the ice flow downriver during the Kuskokwim River break-up on May 4, 2020.

2020 BRHS Graduation parade and ceremony during COVID-19 Pandemic.

Protesters gathered at the Yupi...Bethel, Alaska on June 2, 2020.

Protesters gathered at the Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center in the wake of the murder of George Floyd in Bethel, Alaska on June 2, 2020.

Lonnie Holley Sr. is embraced b...June 5, 2020 in Bethel, Alaska.

Lonnie Holley Sr. is embraced by Alize Mccabe and his neice after giving an emotional speech at the Black Lives Matter protest on June 5, 2020 in Bethel, Alaska.

Dr. Elizabeth Bates and Registe...te in Bethel on March 25, 2020.

Dr. Elizabeth Bates and Registered Nurse Avelina Chung work for the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation at the drvie-through COVID-19 test site in Bethel on March 25, 2020.

Edna Mathlaw of Bethel reads he...Nov. 3, 2020 in Bethel, Alaska.

Edna Mathlaw of Bethel reads her ballot on Nov. 3, 2020 in Bethel, Alaska.

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Thumbnail of Alex Kim, owner of Chopstix Sush_arch 31, 2020 in Bethel, Alaska.

Thumbnail of School children and their guardi_ to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Thumbnail of Bethel residents head out to che_navirus pandemic on May 6, 2020.

Thumbnail of Bethel Elder Esther Green reflec_pril 30, 2020 in Bethel, Alaska.

Thumbnail of Eula David remembers stories tha_out past epidemics. May 7, 2020.

Thumbnail of Phillip Wilson leaves the Bethel_ver to Napaskiak on May 6, 2020.

Thumbnail of People watch the ice flow downri_m River break-up on May 4, 2020.

Thumbnail of 2020 BRHS Graduation parade and ceremony during COVID-19 Pandemic.

Thumbnail of Protesters gathered at the Yupii_ Bethel, Alaska on June 2, 2020.

Thumbnail of Lonnie Holley Sr. is embraced by_ June 5, 2020 in Bethel, Alaska.

Thumbnail of Dr. Elizabeth Bates and Register_ite in Bethel on March 25, 2020.

Thumbnail of Edna Mathlaw of Bethel reads her_ Nov. 3, 2020 in Bethel, Alaska.

Public Story

Until We Get Through This - KYUK

Copyright Katie Basile 2024

Updated Aug 2020

Topics Community, COVID-19, Documentary, Editorial, Health, Health/Healing, Novel Coronavirus, Photography, Photojournalism, Rural Alaska

People in Bethel are preparing for the arrival of COVID-19 because the region’s isolation will not protect them. In an attempt to slow the spread of the disease, Alaska has closed schools, shuttered businesses, required social distancing, and forced hospitals to prepare for the arrival of the global pandemic. The Bethel community has responded by delivering meals and schoolwork to kids, erecting a drive-thru coronavirus test site, hand sewing protective masks, and creating that perfect blend of bleach and water for disinfecting homes without plumbing.

Katie Basile

Aug 12, 2020

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