Unbroken: Indigenous Peoples Today

43 / 44

Tammie Dupuis, Bitterroot Salish artist

"Being Native and White... Being in this very interesting no man's land... I feel like even though I grew up in a reservation and very much identify with my Native side that I'm absolutely camouflaged. If I just keep my mouth shut nobody knows I'm Native, and most people in this country will not see past my skin color.

"As someone who can walk in camouflage, I feel like it's my responsibility to make space whenever I can and hold opportunities open for other people who don't have that. Like giving up art scholarships for others. I know there are other Indigenous artists, who's blood quantum is higher or their skin is darker, and this would be a much better opportunity for them. I mean, I've got space, and I don't feel like I have to think about buying paint or eating. I'm not poverty stricken, I'm not on the reservation trying to work two jobs and do art.

"I'm just in this very privileged space and I think part of it is because of my skin and I should use it to help others. We should lift each other up instead of just being greedy, and that's a very Native American sensibility. Because in my tribe, there's these stories about how you should behave, and greed is absolutely one of those things that is abhorrent. If you cannot share then that's an issue. That impacts the group and that impacts your worth as a human being."

Tammie Dupuis artist portrait Jason Sinn Jason Sinn Jason Sinn Photography activism activism photographer activism photography activism portrait activist activist photographer activist photography american indian american indian photography american indian portrait art art photography art studio artist portrait artwork bitterroot salish canvas canvas painting colorful colors creative creative photography creative portrait creative portrait photography creative portraiture cultural cultural photographer cultural photography cultural portrait culture culture photographer culture photography culture portrait education indigenous indigenous art indigenous artist indigenous culture indigenous painting indigenous people indigenous people today indigenous peoples indigenous peoples today indigenous person indigenous photography indigenous portrait photography love native native american native american art native american artist native american painter native american painting native american photography native american portrait native american portrait photography native art native artist native artwork native culture native pride paint painter painter portrait painting peace photographer photography photography art photoshoot portrait photographer portrait photography portraits portraiture professional photographer professional photography protest photographer protest photography protest portrait resist resistance tammie dupuis unbroken indigenous peoples today wisdom