Archive photo exhibit captures Indigenous strength, connections in difficult times - Action News
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Archive photo exhibit captures Indigenous strength, connections in difficult times

Two photographers documented Indigenous communities around Calgary over several decades starting in the 1930s, but not the regalia you might see in a Stampede parade.

Its not a sad story but more of a tribute, says curator Paul Seesequasis

Bessie (Little Bear) Crowchild is just one of the images in a new exhibit at Nickle Galleries, called Turning the Lens: Indigenous Archive Project. (Mike Symington/CBC)

Two photographers documented Indigenous communities around Calgary over several decades starting in the 1930s, but not the regalia you might see in a Stampede parade. The pictures show the real, day-to-day lives of a people and their family connections, during a time of residential schools and other cultural horrors.

A new Nickle Galleries exhibit, Turning the Lens: Indigenous Archive Project, is a sampling of the work of Rosemary Gilliat Eaton and Arnold Lupson. The writer, journalist and cultural activist who pulled them all togethersays he walked away with a deeper understanding as well.

Calf Robe and family. (Mike Symington/CBC)

"What resonated with me was the amount of time he spent in the community," Paul Seesequasissaid of amateur photographer Lupson.

"I am not so much interested in photographers who fly in, fly out of communities. I'm interested in photographers who spend time at a place, actually know the people, and as that happens, people become more comfortable with the camera."

Portrait of Inuit artist (Napachie Pootoogook), Cape Dorset, Nunavut. (Mike Symington/CBC)

Lupson became fascinated with Indigenous people after moving from England to Calgary in the 1920s.

"He became fascinated. He eventually married into the Big Plume family and was adopted. Through his lifetime, he took hundreds upon hundreds of photos."

Alice Crow and son, Harry Bull Bear. (Mike Symington/CBC)

Although not related by blood, he was embraced by the communities, they trusted him.

"I think what people will learn is that Indigenous culture is not just beads and feathers," Seesequasis said.

"Indigenous culture is adapting, it's always been adapting. It shows the strength and resilience of communities during hard times economically, but also the time of residential schools, passes, that sort of thing. Yet the family unit and kinship-linked ties were very strong. I think people get a deep appreciation of that through these photos."

Feast at Oscar Otters place. (Mike Symington/CBC)

Seesequasis said Turning the Lens, which runs until Dec. 14, could connect some dots if people recognize the photographic subjects.

And it's not a sad storybut more of a tribute.

Bessie (Little Bear) Crowchild. (Mike Symington/CBC)

"To honour the strength and resilience of previous generations who went through some very difficult timesbut never lost their bonds of family and of kinship and of culture and language," he said.

Turning the Lens: Indigenous Archive Project is a new exhibit curated by writer, journalist and cultural activist Paul Seesequasis. The exhibit as at Nickle Galleries until Dec. 14. (Mike Symington/CBC)

With files from Mike Symington