Katie Basile

Photojournalist and Documentary Storyteller

www.katiebasile.com

Dear Newtok (work in progress)

Location: Bethel, Alaska

Nationality: USA

Biography: Katie Basile is a photojournalist, documentary storyteller and educator. Her work focuses on the Southwest region of Alaska and explores adaptation and resilience in a changing world. Katie frequently collaborates on digital storytelling projects... read on

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Lebron and Toby peer into a steambath that is nearly falling into the Ninglick River in Newtok, Alaska on July 12, 2020. Erosion, melting permafrost and an increase in storm surges has forced the village of Newtok to relocate.

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Newtok, Alaska is facing rapid erosion and permafrost melt as a result of climage change. The village is working towards a major relocation effort so that the community can move to safer, newly constructed village on Nelson Island. Newtok, Alaska on July 16, 2020.

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Youth fix their basketball court in Newtok, Alaska on July 12, 2020.

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The pond next to the airport turns into a swimming hole on hot summer days. The pond used to hold the communities drinking water until the Ninglick River flooded contaminating the water. July 16, 2020 in Newtok, Alaska.

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Kevin Charles, Mary Carl, Frieda Carl and xx navigate the 9.5-mile boat ride between Mertarvik and Newtok on July 16, 2020.

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Mertarvik is a newly constructed village on Nelson Island where Newtok is relocating to. July 16, 2020 in Mertarvik, Alaska.

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In an interview with KYUK Newtok Village Council President George Carl talked about how risky it is to live in a place without an airport. A day later he fell ill and had to travel nine and a half miles by boat to Newtok in order to be medevaced to Anchorage. July 13, 2020 in Mertarvik, Alaska.

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Ayuq, or Laborador Tea, grows abundantly in Mertarvik, Alaska. The scent of ayuq fills the air and the plant is harvested and brewed for health benefits by many people in the community. July 14, 2020.

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Jasmin Kassaiuli plays hide-and-seek in Mertarvik, Alaska on July 14, 2020.

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Lena Ayuluk, Kayleigh Charles, Clarissa Ivon and Jasmin Kassaiuli play hacky sack and hide-and-seek in Mertarvik, Alaska on July 14, 2020.

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The Carl family returns home after a long boat ride to Newtok and back on July 14, 2020.

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Lena Ayuluk and Clarissa Ivon on the main road in Mertarvik, Alaska on July 14, 2020.

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Jasmin Kassaiuli sits on roofing materials for new homes in Mertarvik, Alaska on July 14, 2020.

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Clarissa Ivon (right) shows her friends a mouse she caught in Mertarvik, Alaska on July 15, 2020.

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Fishracks in the newly constructed village of Mertarvik line the cliff overlooking the Baird Inlet on July 14, 2020. Mertarvik, Alaska.

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Monica Kassaiuli outside of her home in Mertarvik, Alaska on July 15, 2020.

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Jeffrey Charles Jr. grabs a quick snack while his parents, Lisa and Jeffrey Charles cut strips near their smoke house in Mertarvik, Alaska. Lisa says that limited access to a grocery store has them eating more subsistence-based foods. July 15, 2020.

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Fish hangs to dry in Mertarvik, Alaska on July 15, 2020.

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Albertina Charles at her home in Mertarvik on July 15, 2020.

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Salmonberries between Mertarvik and Newtok on July 16, 2020.

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Drake Charles and Jeffrey Charles Jr. catch fish along the banks of the Baird Inlet in Mertarvik, Alaska on July 15, 2020.

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During the Summer of 2017, Albertina Charles was so anxious about storm surges in Newtok that she and her granddaughter Lena Ayuluk moved across to Mertarvik before there was any housing and lived in a shipping container. Now Albertina lives in a home of her own and Lena visits from Newtok until her family has a house ready. July 15, 2020.