My name is Crystal Willis and I live in Anchorage, Alaska. My mother is Tyonek and Kodiak, she is one-half Athabascan, one-quarter Aleut, and one-quarter Russian. My father is Inupiaq from St Mary’s.
In June of 2016, I received a call from my mother with the news that my cousin Jacqueline was murdered. My uncle Tony, Jacqueline’s father was heartbroken, and he went off the deep end. My mother had to plan her funeral so that she could be buried at her home. I went to her funeral as I was one of the few family members available in Anchorage and I spoke on behalf of the Chudocken family.
It is hard to live in a culture where murder is an epidemic. Being Alaskan and knowing my children are out there, my older daughter is out in the world, it is almost crippling. I just wish there were something people can do to ensure that our culture will no longer be targeted. My mother grew up tough and she passed that onto me. I believe that is why I have been able to survive. There are steps people can take to feel a little safer, such as do not go around late at night and do not put yourself in scary situations.
I have several other family members that have been murdered. Several of us have PTSD. Murder has definitely made my family appreciate one another. My mom and I are very close, and my brothers and sisters are all we have. So many people around me, such as friends of mine and family members have been murdered. It is strange to be around so much murder.
Murder touches so many different people even if it is not someone you knew, even if it is someone from a different community, the people hurt. For people that are direct family members, it is a million times worse.
By Crystal Willis, Cousin of a Homicide Victim
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