Matika Wilbur

This massive book of photographs and narrative from many of Turtle Mountain's now 575 recognized tribes, is so filled with beauty and wisdom that you might want to own it so that you can take the time to look and to read. The author travels across the country to interview primarily those tribal leaders who are teaching, learning, and resurrecting their languages, handicrafts, and rituals. The commanding vistas and the comfort of the elders and the young in their home places (and for many, not even their home places, but the lands (Oklahoma) where they were force-marched to) seem to overcome difficulty in great harmony. So many pages, so much wisdom, so many harsh and lush locales, and many sagas of the terrible boarding schools are shared. Alaska, Hawaii, Washington State, New Mexico, and Minnesota are home to so many tribes and their stories, but on the map enclosed, there is a very large blank, empty space in the Midwest and the South - Iowa, Illinois, Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri - to remind us about yet another unrelenting crime that this government was founded upon.… (meer)

photojournalist, indigenous-people, genocide, historical-places-events, historical-research, historical-figures, current-affairs, cultural-differences, cultural-anthropology, cultural-diversity, cultural-exploration, cultural-heritage*****

Heritage and languages are disappearing from North America and, although it is mostly the fault of the greedy, it WAS the fault of the apathetic. No more! The beautiful and colorful journey through the lands and peoples who are rising up to salvage what was nearly lost is a testament to their endurance. The narrative is potent and active.
My people came from Europe in the twentieth century, but we still bear the shame.
Well suited for sharing WITH someone, and great for gifting to anyone, but especially to a school or your public library! It is DEFINITELY worth the cost!
I requested and received a free temporary e-book on Adobe Digital Editions from Clarkson Potter/Penguin Random House/Ten Speed Press via NetGalley. Thank you!… (meer)

Project 562: Changing the Way We See Native America by Matika Wilbur is a beautiful and informative glimpse into the variety and depth of indigenous culture(s) in America.

The result of an ambitious plan, this volume will be an eye-opener for anyone regardless of background. In my case, I know very little about my native ancestry beyond what I learned when I would visit cousins when I was young. My family is what used to be called Heinz 57, which in our case meant we knew a little about each and a lot about none of our various heritage strands. I suspect that even many people who know their personal heritage better will still be less aware of the range of cultures within Native America. This project does quite a bit toward remedying that.

The photographs are wonderful portraits, my personal favorites being the ones where the subject is looking directly into the camera. I think I felt that way because I was also reading their words and having that extra bit of personal contact made it all come together very well. That said, the shots where they were looking off camera were all done very well and often conveyed the feeling that came across in their interview. In other words, each portrait didn't just accompany the text but added to it.

Highly recommended whether you're coming mostly for the photographs or the text. Either way, you'll be pleased with both elements.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.… (meer)