Cecil American-Horse–Lakota

Cecil and I met at the 2004 BYU Pow Wow. Someone else Terry Goedel had introduced me to. Cecil needed some headshots to use for PR at Pow Wow type events. The other photographer had put a dark background behind him, meaning that when you go to a cheaper copy shot his head blended with the background.

Cecil was a good subject to shoot. He would look directly into the camera and does the Native Stoic look. Cecil teaches in Kyboto on the Navajo Reservation just south of Paige, Arizona.

Mark Roanhorse—Navaj0

During the 2004 San Manuel Pow Wow in California , I was taking pictures of different dancers in a make-shift studio in the grassy area behind the arena. Mark Roanhorse’s wife, Minnie, had approached me about taking his picture. She wanted to know “how much did I charge and why am I doing photography of Native Americans?” My response to her question was, “I don’t charge, don’t sell my pictures, and I’m not sure why I’m doing this.” Minnie asked me to do pictures of her husband before I started charging. So I told Minnie where I would be the next weekend—Tuba City, Arizona for the Western Navajo Fair and Pow Wow.

At the Pow Wow I met up with Mark and Minnie. We sat in their camp for a time and talked. Mark’s concern was for the high, thin clouds, which had been hanging around all day. He thought it would be bad for pictures. I assured him that in about an hour the sun would drop under the clouds and would put highlights into his eyes. The background would be good for the colors of his regalia. So about an hour later, a bit before sunset, the sun dropped and I was able to get this portrait of Mark Roanhorse.

Dallin Maybee—Northern Arapaho/Seneca

This is Dallin’s favorite photo. My wife, Beth, calls this the lost member of the rock group KISS. Dallin is not only a great Pow Wow dancer, and good friend but also an accomplished artist. I met Dallin Maybee a few years ago after watching him demonstrate Hoop Dancing. That doesn’t sound like much but you have to remember that he is 6’5”. Someday I hope to photograph his wedding.

Ardel Scalplock- Blackfeet (Canadian)

Ardel is a Northern Traditional Dancer.  The face painting in the old days meant something about what kind of warrior he was.  During Pow Wow dance competition it adds to the dance.  It has meaning to Ardel though.  He competes at most of the major Pow Wow’s even here in California at the large casinos.

When I first met Ardel many years ago he was a quiet man in person and aggressive when he dances.  I have documented a Blackfeet Naming Ceremony for one of his daughters but have yet to do a family portrait.  I do notice that when his family and wife are not around he is very talkative.  Funny about that way of being talkative when the wife isn’t around, I wouldn’t know.  Ardel is one of the dancers that have given permission to sell their image for non-profit.

Marshall Funmaker—Chippewa/Ho Chunk

Marshall comes from a Pow Wow family. Between mom, Monica Raphael, his sister Alexa Rae and brother, Dakota, the whole family dances. I had gone to work for a week for Monica under a Federal Grant. At the end I was doing portraits for many of the local tribal members. I had scouted out many locations. The one I found for Marshall was before I saw his regalia. One of the things I had learned was that the Native way was to blend in with the environment. So it made the shot even better that he was wearing yellow and green. Many of my photography buddies have seen this shot. Their response is that they would not have shot it in this way. They like to separate the subject from the background. Of course that is what I’m trying not to do.

Saginaw Grant—Sac and Fox

Saginaw is an actor, Gourd Dancer, speaker and Grass Dancer. This photo was taken one afternoon at the 2004 San Manuel Pow Wow in San Bernardino , California . I had set up a small portable studio to do some other photos. His friend asked if we could use this really ugly backdrop, which is tie-dyed red and black. It is random patterned. However, if you look on the left side of the photo just behind his face you will see a Buffalo Skull shape. This was not intentional and has not been digitally manipulated. It took me by surprise and I have made Saginaw some larger copies of this. Buffalo is big medicine.

Richard Rock—Chippewa/Cree

This picture is from the 2003 Fantasy Springs Pow Wow in Indio , California . The story attached to it is not about the picture, but about the man. Richard is my favorite Grass Dancer. HE does things with his hips and shoulders that I have seen very few others try and emulate. But when I first approached Richard with taking his picture he gave me advice that I hold a great amount of value to. What he said shaped me as a person and as a photographer. Many of the people I have met have given me wisdom that I follow. What Richard Rock said was to define how I would treat people and the kinds of people I would seek out to take photographs of. I will not say exactly what was said but the jest was; don’t forget those people you take photos of now and forget who they are when they get older and sickly. Don’t just take pictures of the really great dancers. When you get famous continue to do photography for all people, not just the ones that will make you more money. I accepted his wisdom. Thinking I would never be famous. But the fact I keep his word so close to who I am I will never forget what it was Richard said.

Jesse Osawamick—Anishinabe

Hinckley Pow Wow 2006 Hinckley, Minnesota

First met Jesse and his mother, Karen Pheasant, in 2004 at the Schemitzun Pow Wow in Connecticut. Then again at the 2005 Morongo Pow Wow in California. Both times, I never actually saw Jesse dance. In the last several months, Karen has started writing for a few newspapers, columns on pow wow and dance. One such article was about the different ways of dancing. Not styles but ways, meaning that some dance for the money and some for prayer/healing. They can do both but you can tell visually how they dance. Karen is traditional in most dance and beliefs, so not to my surprise, so does Jesse.

Hinckley Pow Wow was three-day Pow Wow but it was rained out both Friday night and Saturday. I had asked both Karen and Jesse to do some photos for them. I also needed Jesse’s picture for the 2007 Calendar I am working on. Sunday was one of those perfect days. It was cool with a moderate wind, blue skies with white puffy clouds. In photographers terms perfect. I had scouted out a location for Jesse’s shots, 100 yards away in a stand of pines with tall 18-inch high grass and small tall flowers. My first shots were portraits, stagnant and ordinary. The next set of shots was to have him dance.

In the couple of previous days, I had noticed Jesse dancing grass to any type of music. He likes Grass Dancing. Some of the music was native others was Hip Hop or no music at all. I think he hears the drums constantly in a good way. I also do not believe he is practicing. Therefore, when I asked Jesse to dance in the tall grass that morning it was of no effort. From the pictures, you can tell his heart and soul is in the space. The shot I have included is of the middle of the dance and I have changed it to Black and White, instead of color, for the effect. I also shot Jesse looking up through the grass as though I am a small four-legged seeing this spirit in the grass with me.

Just one last note which his mother Karen has informed me. Jesse has been dancing since he was a very small child. Only took time off to do the normal playing in the sand and with other kids. Jesse started dancing seriously about 4 summers ago and now is 18. He wins at contest pow wows all over North America. Jesse is the grandson of storyteller and healer Sam Osawamick.

Lowery Begay—Navajo

In 2003 I met Lowery as he was dancing exhibition in Southern California during a small Pow Wow. He dances both Hoop and Fancy. We stayed in contact through out 2003. In January of 2004 he called and insisted that I come to the World Hoop Dance Championship at the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona. Lowery introduced me to most of the dancers. He also stayed with me during the Hoop competition at the 2004 Schemitzun Pow Wow in Connecticut where he placed first in the contest. Lowery called me a month before Schemitzun to tell me he would be winning there. He wasn’t kidding.