Indie Alaska

Wrestling is more than just a sport for young people living in many parts of rural Alaska. In Wrangell, the high school wrestling team is dominating the competition. Della Churchill leads the coed wrestling team as the team captain despite surviving tragedy in her family and in her small Southeast Alaskan community. Della's resilience, gratitude, and compassion for others have shaped this athlete.

Every year for the last twenty years the community of Homer, Alaska has come together to take part in a temporary art project. The Homer Burning Basket asks those who take part to examine a word and apply it to their life while also using it as an opportunity to let go of the past and embrace what is.

Gretchen Bersch shares some of the life lessons she's learned while spending a lifetime homesteading on Yukon Island, Alaska. The retired teacher now uses her family homestead to follow a dream she's been pursuing for nearly 30 years.

Join us as we dive into the culinary journey of Alaska's own Kim Sherry, a talented home cook who made waves on season three of The Great American Recipe (‪@PBSFood‬ ). Discover how Kim brought the unique flavors of Alaska to the national stage. From traditional Alaskan dishes to innovative creations, Kim's time on the show was nothing short of inspiring.

Ricky Vazquez is a proud Puerto Rican who rarely slows down. After spending almost a decade in incarcerated, he doesn't like to get bored. These days he prefers the adrenaline of the busy Saturday night rush at one of Anchorage's most beloved historic taverns.

Marion Owen first observed the many benefits of gardening by watching her mom as a child. Today, Marion lives in Kodiak, Alaska where she is learning how to repair the island's dense, ashy soil through the power of compost to grow the garden paradise of her dreams.

INDIE ALASKA is an original video series produced by Alaska Public Media in partnership with PBS Digital Studios.

Greg Henrikson, a lawyer in Eagle River, became fascinated with Medieval History and delved into medieval calligraphy for the Historic Recrudescence Guild (HRG), a Medieval Re-enactment group. The HRG sets up a medieval village annually at the Three Barons Renaissance Fair in Anchorage, Alaska. Greg initially thought it would be easy, but soon realized he was mistaken.

Daisy Nicolas first discovered her knack for baking dog treats while caring for her beloved aging dog, Dallas. Now pet treats are her full-time job as owner of Drool Central: A Mum and Pup Barkery in Anchorage, Alaska. When Daisy realized the demands of the business were too much for her, she developed a partnership with the Anchorage School District to employ youth with learning disabilities.

Mackenzie Englishoe is dedicated to ensuring that future generations living in Gwichyaa Zhee also known as Fort Yukon are able to live off of and celebrate the lands they call home. In this Indie Alaska feature from PBS and PBS Digital Studios earn about the impact a lack of salmon can have on villages within the state of Alaska, and what it means for future generations.

Meg Kelley has been crafting since she was a kid learning to live with an ADHD diagnosis. Now as an adult living in Anchorage, Alaska, Meg is realizing the uniqueness of her internal world is helping her tap into her artistic creativity in new and inspiring ways. Now the art scene in Alaska is inspiring Meg to leave her 15-year career in the medical field behind to explore her passion for fashion.