WAASAAKIBIZOO: "He/she reflects"
Over the course of 6 months, I met with members of several Anishinabeg families (including members of my own family). Our goal was to bring together a collection of historical Anishinabeg-based photographs taken from 1915 to 1970. "Anishinabeg-based" means that the photographs were taken by Anishinabeg of Anishinabeg and that the images were taken care of by our families for 45-100 years. As part of this broader project, some individuals participated in a process whereby we re-took the historical image with younger generations sitting or standing in the place of their ancestors. In essence, we were re-taking or re-making the photograph.
What was learned from this experience was unique to each individual, yet overall this process provided a means for people to revisit or reconnect with the Anishinabeg stories of their ancestors--stories that are both unique to each family but that connect to a unified and shared history marked by the resilience and perseverance of our Anishinabeg people. Photography was used by people to learn, to respect, to understand and to engage in the ongoing processes of healing and reconnecting as Indigenous People who have and continue to struggle agains/with many forms of colonial violence.
I am humbled to share the resulting 28 "then and now" photographs with you in the spirit of sharing a glimpse into the continuance of our work aimed at reclaiming our stories and honouring our relationships to these histories and our relatives that journeyed before us.
What was learned from this experience was unique to each individual, yet overall this process provided a means for people to revisit or reconnect with the Anishinabeg stories of their ancestors--stories that are both unique to each family but that connect to a unified and shared history marked by the resilience and perseverance of our Anishinabeg people. Photography was used by people to learn, to respect, to understand and to engage in the ongoing processes of healing and reconnecting as Indigenous People who have and continue to struggle agains/with many forms of colonial violence.
I am humbled to share the resulting 28 "then and now" photographs with you in the spirit of sharing a glimpse into the continuance of our work aimed at reclaiming our stories and honouring our relationships to these histories and our relatives that journeyed before us.