NATIVE AMERICAN ART
People of the Dawnland
For most people outside North and South America, the words Native Americans almost automatically bring to mind the same image: endless prairies, horseback riders, tipis, bison, and people wearing towering feathered headdresses. That image has become deeply rooted through films, books, and popular culture. In reality, however, it represents only a small part of a much larger story.
Champlain's map of Saco Bay and the Saco River, 1605
The history of Indigenous peoples neither begins nor ends on the Great Plains. When the first English colonists arrived in what is now the United States, they encountered very different nations - the peoples of New England, a region that today includes Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. They built villages along rivers, lakes, and the Atlantic coast, caught fish, cultivated corn, beans, and squash, hunted in dense forests, and traveled by birchbark canoe.
That is why I wanted to begin exploring Indigenous cultures not through the familiar imagery of the American West, but here in New England.
Star's Story
One of the first people I met was Star, who introduced herself as an Ojibwe woman. She told me that she is studying law and is involved with the Berkshire Métis Council. According to Star, she hopes to use her legal education to help Indigenous communities and people seeking recognition and protection of their rights.
Star explained that her headdress had been given to her, while she had handmade the decorative elements on her dress, as well as many of the accessories she was wearing.
Michael's Story
I then met Michael Descoteaux, an Abenaki artist from Vermont. He grew up on a family farm, has spent his life photographing wildlife, creates traditional drums and jewelry, and transforms his nature photographs into intricate beadwork.
During our conversation, Michael shared a remarkable story. Several years ago, a huge black bear began visiting his property on a regular basis. It destroyed parts of the farm, ate stored grain, and killed his chickens. Despite the damage, he could not simply take a rifle and shoot it, as black bears are protected by law. Only after receiving official permission was he forced to put the animal down. Today, the bear's skull remains in his home as a reminder of that chapter of his life, and Michael crafted a necklace from its claws, which he now wears during traditional gatherings.
Michael also showed me his tattoo and explained its meaning. At the top are three drops representing three parts of a plant - the seed, the stem, and the petal. Beneath them are flowing lines resembling roots spreading into the earth. For him, the design symbolizes his connection to his ancestors, his homeland, and his heritage.
366 Jingles
Later, I spoke with another woman about the traditional Jingle Dress Dance and the unique construction of the dress itself.
The dance originated among the Ojibwe (Chippewa) people around 1918-1920 during the Spanish influenza pandemic. According to tradition, it emerged as a dance of healing and hope. A traditional Jingle Dress is decorated with exactly 365 rolled metal cones - one for every day of the year. Each day represents a prayer or a positive thought, and during the dance, the soft sound of the cones, reminiscent of falling rain, is believed to carry healing and peace.
Originally, these jingles were handcrafted by rolling the metal lids of small tobacco tins using a special tool.
But the detail that surprised me the most was another story I was told. Hidden beneath the skirt is a 366th jingle. Unlike the others, it is made of cuprite and represents the extra day of a leap year. That is why the total number of jingles on the dress is not 365, but 366.
In addition to the urban environment and architecture, I pay attention to local cafés, shops, restaurants, and other small businesses that are an important part of city life. These details often reflect the identity of a place just as much as its famous landmarks and help visitors gain a deeper understanding of the city.
Traditional Food
When people think about Indigenous cuisine, fry bread is usually the first dish that comes to mind. My personal discovery, however, was alligator tacos - one of the most delicious meals I have ever tasted - and fried frog legs.
The Story Continues
Today, many Indigenous people continue preserving their culture through traditional craftsmanship. Jewelry, clothing, beadwork, and ceremonial items are still made by hand, just as they were generations ago. From one of these artisans, I purchased a pair of beaded earrings that now remind me of this day and of the people who allowed me to take one small step closer to understanding their culture.
For more than two years now, I have been living on land that has been home to Indigenous peoples since time immemorial. The area where North Conway and the Saco River Valley are located today is the ancestral homeland of the Wabanaki people, including the Pequawket, Ossipee, and other Abenaki communities. Today, their legacy continues through the modern Wabanaki Confederacy, which unites five related nations: the Abenaki, Mi'kmaq, Penobscot, Passamaquoddy, and Wolastoqey (Maliseet), whose traditional territories extend across present-day New England and eastern Canada. One of my own friends, for example, is a descendant of the Mi'kmaq Nation.
As long as I live on this land, I want to use photography to tell the stories of its first peoples - not the stories found in textbooks, but the stories of real people, their families, crafts, traditions, and everyday lives.
If you belong to one of the Indigenous nations, or if you know someone whose story deserves to be shared, I would love to hear from you. I personally select participants for my long-term documentary photography project, and if your story becomes one of them, I will create a complimentary documentary photo session for you. It is my way of preserving these stories and introducing them to a wider audience.