SCOTTY BARR (NATIVE VILLAGE OF KOTZEBUE)
MMIP advocate | Anchorage, Alaska
I am the parent of the late Ashley Johnson-Barr, a beautiful 10-year-old girl who enjoyed being outdoors, going to church and helping her friends and family. Unfortunately, she is now a Missing and Murdered Indigenous Person. A year after we buried her, I suffered two strokes from all the stress: the media questions, the court stuff, everything. All that heaviness took a toll. I was going through a dark time with alcohol. I sat down in my doctor’s office, and he said, “I’m not going to let you go until you agree to go and see counseling.” That was the best thing I ever did. We (as men) were taught not to speak our feelings. But it’s OK. It’s OK to cry; it’s OK to learn from your mistakes. If you don’t have a strong relationship with your dad or your older brothers, seek someone who’s willing to help you, guide you. That’s who I want to be in my community, some sort of role model or sober mentor to all these younger brothers who struggle with addictions without anyone to look up to — to help respect them for who they are and help them respect our women and girls.
We welcome reader letters. Email High Country News at editor@hcn.org or submit a letter to the editor. See our letters to the editor policy.
This article appeared in the July 2026 print edition of the magazine with the headline “#IAMTHEWEST.”
