Carol Seppilu (Siberian Yupik) was born on Saint Lawrence Island, west of mainland Alaska in the Bering Sea. She suffered a harsh childhood, which led to depression and alcoholism. Some 23 years ago in the month of September, at age 16, she attempted suicide after a night of heavy drinking.
The years that followed were extremely challenging for Seppilu. After the attempt to take her own life, she had to undergo numerous painful surgeries, including a tracheotomy and the insertion of a permanent tube in her neck to help her breathe. Depression loomed over her, and she spent most of her days in bed, sometimes up to 20 hours.
She remembers thinking one day, “Carol, you need to get up and do something.” So she laced up her shoes, got her dog — a mixed breed Alaskan Malamute and Siberian Husky named Solar — and began a two-mile run around her neighborhood. As a result, her once small steps have become powerful strides. Since then, Seppilu has used running as a tool for battling depression. She describes running as a form of medication and prayer — a pure joy she hasn’t found anywhere else that allows her to listen to nature and connect with her ancestors.
Her closest friend, Crystal Toolie, said she hopes more people will hear Seppilu’s story so that there is an awareness of not only the importance of mental health but to bring awareness of the historical trauma that the Alaska Native community is going through.
Stories of suicide are sadly familiar in Indian Country. Native peoples have the highest rates of suicide of any racial or ethnic group in the U.S. — up to three times higher, according to estimates. The numbers are particularly worrisome for younger generations of Native Americans. In 2019, suicide was the second-leading cause of death for Native peoples between the ages of 10 and 34.
Read more at NativeNewsOnline.net.
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