NATIVE AMERICAN MISSION

Within my home state of Montana, there are 8 federally recognized First Nation Tribes. In 2019, the landless Little Shell Band of Chippewa were welcomed and joined the Salish-Pend d'Orielle-Kootenai, the Blackfeet, the Chippewa Cree, the Gros Venture-Assiniboine, the Assiniboine/Souix, the Northern Cheyenne, and Crow Tribes. 

If you have ever attended a Pow Wow in Montana, and there are several, you were treated to a visual, cultural and historic introduction that to me as a photographer, was just stunning to see. Over the years, I have met and worked with a few whom we started out photographing with an emphasis of Native models in their beautiful regalia, while working throughout our stunning landscape of Montana. The relationship created here certainly goes way beyond photographer and model. Working with these talented individuals, we have met their friends and family who have generously given their time and expertise so we may bring you these images. I also want to recognize the artisans who created the regalia and beautiful beadwork, your talents are beyond remarkable. I hope that this portfolio will be ongoing, hopefully to include people from all eight Tribes. It is our goal to include and reach out beyond our home state, seeking opportunities for more representatives to photograph. The combination of models, regalia, location/landscape photography has proved to be very popular segment and we have seen a huge interest in the portfolio. 

We will offer the imagery and portfolio on our Photography Note Cards and have made the decision to donate our profits to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women - Missing and Murdered Indigenous People. Our models have donated their time and talent, we appreciate all they have done to make this a successful project.