Native American photography

(http://www.project562.com - photo of Dr. Mary Evelyn Belgarde in New Mexico)

Photography is, in my opinion, one of the best ways to express culture and Project 562 is such an interesting national photo gallery containing over 562 tribes, recognized by the federal government. The gallery is created by Matika Wilbur. The photos that I found, illustrate and portray the happiness, the problems, the religion, and the tradition of Native Americans. The styles of the different tribes are either modern, semi-traditional, or full on tribal, the photos show how the tribes have acclimated over time to modern day US. The images are empowering by how Matika Wilbur uses lighting and angles to permit the Natives feelings, like Dr. Belgarde above, she is proud of her tribal garments and is expressing her tribe to the world.

(https://portlandartmuseum.org/exhibitions/contemporary-native-photographers/ - Zig Jackson, 1998)

I started to wonder if there were any Native American photographers trying to portray their culture themselves. I found a contemporary American photographer named Edward Curtis who has died but his legacy continues on with Native American photographers, Zig Jackson, Wendy Red Star, and Will Wilson. They interpret the Native American culture to visitors and influences them to become aware of the historical representation of Native Americans. I learned that the whole feature, The North American Indian, displays the tribe daily life, cultural practices and languages, and traditions of over 80 tribes. Edward Curtis, non-Native American, romanticized the tribal life meaningfully in his photos because he thought of Indians as a "vanishing race", which I believe too. Zig Jackson, or "Rising Buffalo", takes a different approach and focuses on how American culture still represents the "Noble Savage". His photos try to replace the mythes and legends with real Native Americans and their depiction. Wendy Red Star is a raw Native American who connects modern day society to Native American society. Will Wilson, on the other hand, uses portraits to represent Natives. I think it's fascinating how people are still trying after all these years, to give voice to the diminishing culture of the Natives. I also no longer believe Native Americans to be a "vanishing race", just because they fit into our American culture does not mean their culture as a whole is gone.

(https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2016/may/06/edward-curtis-portland-art-museum-native-american-photography - Zig Jackson shooting for Portland Art Museum)

I then researched the reactions from these photos in an article discussing the reactions 100 years later. I learned that some of the reactions were somewhat negative saying Curtis accused of "racial essentialism", blurring the tribes and race together bringing no authenticity to the 40,000 photographs. Most, however, are in awe and gracious towards Curtis for documenting the experience of tribal life. The photo gallery has also brought awareness for the modern Natives and have granted them more land to their reservations with foster care funding. I believe that photography is such a concrete way to capture Native American culture and keep it historically relative, getting rid of the term "vanishing race".