Matika Wilbur, a member of the Swinomish and Tulalip tribes, shares her mission to reshape the narrative surrounding Native Americans through photography. Her project, Project 562, aims to document every indigenous nation in the U.S., highlighting their stories, struggles, and successes to counteract negative stereotypes and promote a more humanized image of Native peoples.
Matika Wilbur, a member of the Swinomish and Tulalip tribes, takes the stage to convey a powerful message from the silenced voices of Native America. Her mission is to showcase the beauty of Native cultures and encourage a collective reimagining of how we perceive one another. Through her work, she seeks to challenge the stereotypes that have long plagued Native peoples in media and society.
Wilbur begins by asking the audience to reflect on their last encounter with a Native American in mainstream media. She highlights a stark reality: between 1990 and 2000, out of 5,868 blockbuster films, only twelve featured American Indians, often portraying them as spiritual beings or victims of societal oppression. This limited representation has profound effects on both Native youth, who may feel diminished by these images, and their non-Native counterparts, who may feel elevated by them.
Wilbur emphasizes that if society continues to view Native peoples through these outdated lenses, it undermines their modern struggles and achievements, including education and economic development.
For the past decade, Wilbur has dedicated her life to counteracting these harmful images through her project, Project 562. This initiative aims to photograph every indigenous nation in the United States. To date, she has traveled over 50,000 miles, documenting 106 tribes and conducting interviews to explore themes of identity, stereotypes, and community issues.
Wilbur shares poignant stories from her journey:
These narratives highlight the resilience and strength of Native individuals, countering the narrative of a vanishing race.
Wilbur captures the essence of Native identity through her photography, showcasing individuals like Paul Chavez, who works tirelessly to preserve Native culture and advocate for sovereignty. Chavez reflects on the importance of recognizing the survival of Native peoples and the value of their cultural heritage in sustaining the Earth.
Jane Blackman, a devout Catholic from the Pala tribe, and Hayes Lewis, superintendent of the Zuni school district, further emphasize the need for educational reform that respects and integrates indigenous knowledge alongside Western education.
Wilbur recounts her experiences with elders like Ray and Fannie Mitchell, who live simply on the Navajo Nation, and the warmth they extended to her on her birthday. Their hospitality and shared stories remind her of the deep connections that exist within Native communities.
In a memorable encounter with the Havasupai People, she learns about their identity as guardians of the Grand Canyon. Through conversations with individuals like Rex Tolusi, she discovers the shared humanity that transcends cultural boundaries, emphasizing that all people are connected through Mother Earth.
Matika Wilbur's journey through photography is not just about capturing images; it is about reshaping narratives and fostering understanding. Her work serves as a reminder that Native peoples are not relics of the past but vibrant communities with rich histories and ongoing struggles. As she continues her journey, she invites everyone to recognize their shared humanity and the importance of supporting one another in the quest for identity and belonging.
Through Project 562, Wilbur not only documents the stories of Native peoples but also inspires a broader audience to engage with and appreciate the complexities of indigenous identities in contemporary society.
Thank you for joining Matika Wilbur on this enlightening journey, as she encourages us all to remember that we are connected and that the stories of Native peoples are integral to the fabric of our shared history.
