Growing from the Root: A Youthful Renaissance of Native American Culture
I wish to explore the daily lives of Native American youth: their adolescent struggle and striving for individuality, as well as their symbolic participation in old tribal ways.
Native American youth, like most adolescents, have it rough. But, whereas many kids face problems like how to gain popularity, pass chemistry class, and make the football team, Native American teens face an additional and more weighty proposition: how do they hold onto the rich culture of their elders and steer clear of the many social ills plaguing reservations? Many of the tribal elders view these as one and the same question—to live according to the old ways of the tribe is to avoid the many pitfalls of life on the reservation. To them, hope for the future lies in honoring the past.
I would like to explore and document these themes on my dream photo assignment by putting the youth of the tribe in a sort of visual dialogue with their elders. Culminating with both a book and multimedia project, I plan to document the daily lives of Native American youth: their adolescent struggle and striving for individuality, as well as their symbolic participation in old tribal ways. I will juxtapose these documentary style photographs with portraits of tribal elders. In book form, the elders will appear on opposing pages from the youth as if they are watching over them. In multimedia form, a combination of video and stills will be backed by audio interviews from both the youth and the elders discussing their hopes for the future of their tribe.
I’ve already spent considerable time documenting Blackfeet Indian youth in northern Montana during summer of 2008. I will be returning to work and live on the reservation this summer, waiting tables to help fund my photography. This is a project I already feel deeply passionate about, and I will continue to work on it with or without external funding. But to achieve the broad scope and deep intimacy that I’m looking for, I need to devote my full attention to this project, living on a number of reservations for months at a time for the next year or more.
If all we knew about life on Indian reservations were based on what we see in the media, then we’d all think that reservations are purely poverty stricken places, ridden with alcoholism. While these are both very real issues, there is a whole spectrum of interesting stories, personal moments, and rich cultural details that fall outside of that well-trodden narrative. Through my dream assignment, I hope to provide a more nuanced perspective and genuine insight to help bridge the cultural gap between native and non-native America.
86 Comments
good luck, serge!
You don't really see much work on the Native Americans these days. I'm voting for your idea -- good luck! Feel free to return the favor and vote for my project on issues facing Zimbabwe.
I hope you get it, Serge! Love from Buenos Aires
Your photography is amazing and I'd love to see you have the opportunity to pursue it.
Great project. I cast a vote for your idea. Would love to see it in print. Please check out my project too and return the vote if you like it.
What a cool idea. Voted. Let me know what you think of my idea too.
I am voting for your dream with best wishes for success.
This sounds like a really interesting project that you would execute beautifully!
Good luck!
gGreat Idea! good luck- you've got my vote-return the favor?
Good!!!! Interesting.
From Buenos Aires
Sounds lovely. I can picture it already. You should put a link to your old work in the description so everyone knows how awesome you are!
This guy is the real deal y'all, and his project will be that much more amazing with this funding!
I grew up in southern Connecticut and know a LOT of Native Americans. Very interesting story to tell! Got my vote. If you like mine, perhaps you can return the vote?
great idea, i voted for you, please check out mine, and if you like it, return the vote, good luck!
Great to hear about your past experience and interest. Voted.
Check out my project on innovation and technology as change for the developing world and my portfolio here: http://maclellanimages.com/blog1/galleries/
=) good luck, and best wishes!!
Good luck Serge!
Serge,
This is great stuff! I have a few contacts that might be of interest to you.
Best,
Big John
good luck serge! keep me posted.
besos
You got my vote Serge, good luck!
Yeah Serge, good luck to you man. see you in Colorado in a few weeks!
-Justin
Good luck, Serge. This sounds like a great project that deserves attention!
~Jessica
I'm proud of you Serge. I wish you the best in reaching this goal, and hope you win the competition so you have the resources to really do it as you'd like to.
Serge,
I hope you win bro! Cant wait for you to become the next Ansel Adams!
Sliver!
Follow your passion Serge! You've got talent, and a calling.
Rev. Tom F-S (Chris's dad)
Serge: Nice work, you have talent. Hope you can continue with this idea. Would like to see images of native youth in their homes or in classrooms or while engaged in some activity with their elders or other family members.
wonderful concept! good luck to you. pic! please have a look at my dream...
Go Serge!!!
Go get 'em Serge, great work!!!!
I look forward to seeing you out at the pad this summer, and seeing some of your pics!
I vote for Growing from the Root: A Youthful Renaissance of Native American Culture. A really meaningful project that deserves to win.
I will spread the word, Serge! You are so deserving of this opportunity!
Sounds amazing.
It is great to see your passion. stay true to your dream!
I really hope you are provided this opportunity to pursue your passion and provide a window into an oft-overlooked part of America. I will do what I can to spread awareness of your project. Good luck!
Good luck!
Best of luck bro!! I'll keep passing the word.
I love your project. I lived on the Navajo Reservation for 5 years, living life the "Dine Way" with mother earth. I gave birth to a child in a hogan and a medicine man. Upon reviewing your pictures, it brought many memories back for me. I wish you all the success in the world!
good luck, serge! what an interesting project - and the images on your website are incredible as usual.
Thanks for your efforts Serge.
Association on American Indian Affairs
Good luck Serge!
serge, i admire your dream - beaucoup 'bon chance'! may i post a link in my newsletter - we'll be sending out on tuesday, march 31st? warmly, dorette
Good to see this effort in support of Native youth. As a Native youth outreach specialist at University of Wisconsin Superior, I can attest to the great need for opportunities like this. Tribal youth are the future of our tribes.
methinks this is a a sweet project! Haruummphh!
Beautiful photographs! interesting project! good luck!
Judy
all right, serge, we are on the case! voted, now spreading the word!
Let's hear it for a Grinnellian -- !! Congratulations for work so well done.
Mary and Gary
This is a great project. Good luck!
Good luck Serge...this is a great project.
Uncle Dave
This is awesome! Good luck Serge!
Patty
play on playa!
Good project...Open a portal for others.
God has Blessed you, with a good eyes for the frame.
Pag
Best of luck with this excellent subject Serge.
Good work Serge. Good luck too.
Good luck! Remind me to talk to you about Paul and Cathie Soderman.
Good luck via Judy Hart
Excellent idea!
Great idea Serge, best of luck. There are so many interesting stories in Native American life that are untold off the reservations.
let's get the project started
matt
Good Luck Serge, hope you do well>
these are stories that need to be heard. good luck!
I'm glad you're on this Serge. It's worth documenting. Best of luck.
Serge, this is a proposal with a lot of integrity that deserves to be completed. Best of luck--we're spreading the word!
Serge,great concept. I have Blackfeet friends in Arizona who might have good contacts for you in Browning. Let me know! Hugs!
Keep on Serge...
Paul S
Hey serge daniel-son here. good luck my friend
SERGE!
Good luck Serge...great journalistic topic!
Good luck, Serge!
i pic'd you but thank leoti!
GREAT IDEA too many Native Americans get forgotten about_ their culture and art,
music and History,their struggles and achievments in today's society
The HOPE and STRENGTH,they can show all of us
in the future cannot be denied.
Good luck Serge!
Good luck, my friend.
Cheers,
David
good luck! See you in the top 20!
Serge! Good luck with this. Definitely rooting for you from Grinnell.
Take care man.
Good Luck Serge. Great Proposal. Lynn Krauss ( friend of your folks)
Got my vote via Applegeeks dot com
Hope my vote helps. This is awesome, Serge. See you at the cafe this summer. I'll be there to help close in September.
I work for the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and I am glad that this project is getting the attention it deserves.
Interesting idea, check out mine and vote for me if you like it. Its about poverty and society in 3rd world countries and how they are controlled, devastated by their governments and western industrialized nations.
"Got my vote via Applegeeks dot com" - Ditto!
This is a really wonderful project that you seem to have a deep passion for and I hope you get the support that you deserve - Good luck!
hoorah for the grand idea.
best of luck.
i voted! good luck!
Really great and awesome!!
interesting and inspiring concept! best of luck to you. check out my project on graffiti and return the vote?