Indian Country Traveler & Photographer

Photographing A California Indian Village

Photographs and Story by Marilyn Angel Wynn

Due to the plummeting economy, my photo trips and destinations have been put on hold. However, last June I decided to visit Anita, one of my best friends, in Southern California and to make an appointment with a doctor that she highly recommended. A planned trip always intrigues me to research the Native tribes of that particular area. Here was my opportunity to do what I enjoy most. That's to shoot pictures that show American Indian cultures. Through a Facebook friend, I made contact with Jacque Tahuka Nunez of Journeys To The Past. Jacque is a bearer of traditions of the Acjachemen Indian Nation (Indigenous people of Orange County). Little did I know about the "Hollywood style" production skills of this incredible woman.

Through phone and email conversations we scheduled a photo shoot that would involve five people to depict early village life. Jacque found a perfect location of a recreated village just outside of LA at the Santa Fe Springs Heritage Park. About 5 years ago, on a photo trip to S. Cal, I had previously photographed on this site called Tongva Village. So I knew ahead of time on what to expect. Opportunities of brush dwellings and a large pond with waterfall. Limitations of wire fences and the site being open daily to public visitors.

With Anita acting as my driver and production assistant, we headed off to meet our models and set up the photo session for that day. Like most of my Native American acquaintances when we need a variety of models, Jacque used her family pool. She would act as elder (although she looks young) in the village set-up along with her daughter-in-law and three young grandchildren. The most difficult part of the shoot was going to be the ages of the children. Two, three and a five year old who was a highly active youngster. Photographing young children is a whole lot like photographing puppies. You have to go with the flow and wait for something to happen. If you attempt to give any sort of direction then generally it's ignored. I lucked out. The children were all very patient, intrigued with using the artifacts (more like playtime than acting) and were delighted to wear historic garments (not to mention how adorable they looked).

The only thing that was a problem through the whole shoot was that I felt so overwhelmed and unprepared for all the activity going on at the same time. In one corner we had the grandmother basket weaving, in another area the little girls were climbing on the tule boat while the young woman would be dipping a gourd cup in the stream. The boy would be intrigued with the fishing net only to drop it and quit once I had the camera set up. My other dilemma was trying to use my DSLR to shoot both stills and video.Through sweat and chaos we all got through it some how. Just happy that the parents brought juice and snacks!

After the photo shoot, we went out for a delicious Mexican meal. Anita and I got to hear more about Jacque's inspiring passions. Dressed in her traditional shell decorated deer hide and grass woven basket hat, she travels to schools and museums giving presentations that include songs, stories and artifacts. Jacque's website is: www.journeystothepast.com

This week I got the courage to sit at the computer and start editing through the hundreds of photographs captured. After a long session narrowing the choice down to "the jewels" of the shoot, I was instantly surprised at how much we actually accomplished. The shoot turned out to be a great success! The priceless images will be a significant addition to my Nativestock Collection and for educational publishers. Already Jacque has plans to print postcards and is working on a book project that will add an assortment of these photograph's.

By using the photographic medium as my tool to bring Native cultures and traditions to the world, I feel so blessed to have captured living moments in time. Every time  I press the shutter, I strongly feel that a higher power or the Creator steps in to make the picture happen. I'm only there to physically press the button.

Tribal Journeys 2010

Photos by: Marilyn Angel Wynn/Nativestock.com  
 

The Makah Tribe of Neah Bay Washington hosted this year’s Tribal Journeys 2010: Journey to the Beginning of the World. The shores of Neah Bay are located on the farthest Northwest tip of the US and the Olympic Peninsula.  

This years journey included 86 traditional canoes from various First Nations villages spread along the west coast. Paddlers of all ages began their 2-3 week journey from British Columbia coastline, Vancouver Island, Washington Inlets and San Juan Islands. Some participants came as far as New Zealand and Hawaii, of course they didn’t paddle from their homelands but joined up with other canoe families.  

I arrived to the final landing beach after a couple of hours driving my home on wheels, a truck with self contained camper, on a winding hairpin turns road. Neah BTribal Journeys 2010ay was bombarded with tents, youth and vendors of all kinds.  

The next day the 86 ocean voyaging canoes and their families (NDN word for team, group)  each ceremonially asked permission to land on the beach and homelands of the Makah. There was great celebration, dancing, singing, drumming finishing with a welcoming salmon feast for thousands of paddlers, their families and spectators.

Benefiting most from the annual canoe journey experiences are the youth. These First Nations teenagers give great hope to future generations and proudly carry on their ancestral traditions. It's by far one of the best mentoring events I've ever witnessed. All participate in a great protocol fan fare that goes week long everyday from morning until midnight. Each tribe who sponsored a canoe are represented through the sharing of their songs, regalia and dancing. The celebration is highly honored and intense.  

All tribal members and non-Indians are welcome to attend the 2011 canoe landing and celebration which will be hosted by the Tsimshian of Prince Rupert, BC. That will also include a totem pole raising. Additional future journeys will be Paddle to Squaxin Island 2012, Quinault 2013 and Bella Bella 2014. This is a well organized First Nations event that’s not to be missed and needs to be experienced at least once in your lifetime