Unbroken: Indigenous Peoples Today

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Shaayí - Tlingit, Haida, and Aishihik Native

"One of my flutes is a drone double barreled flute made by a man named Adan Mendoza from Jalisco, Mexico who studies the traditional ways of his ancestors. He combines Mayan and Plains Native flute styles to create instruments of the highest quality. We met at a canoe journey and shared in flute playing and have been good friends since then.

"Playing fills me with energy, but seemingly paradoxically, I also empty and the energy flows through me and outward. Playing the flute deepens my mind and brings it into focus. It makes me feel grounded and embodied. It also makes me feel elated and expanded outside the body. Sometimes I see light when I play. I also feel more connected to nature and her creatures. The flute reminds me that I am merely a vessel for sharing whatever flows."

Shaayí native Woman Playing flute The ocean photographer Jason Sinn Aishihik Haida Jason Sinn Jason Sinn Photography Tlingit activism activism photographer activism photography activism portrait activist activist photographer activist photography american indian american indian photography american indian portrait art art photography artist artwork coast creative creative photography creative portrait creative portrait photography creative portraiture cultural cultural photographer cultural photography cultural portrait cultural portrait photography culture culture photographer culture photography culture portrait double barrel flute education human rights indigenous indigenous culture indigenous music indigenous people indigenous people today indigenous peoples today indigenous person indigenous photography indigenous portrait photography love music musician native american native american photography native american portrait native american portrait photography native culture native lives matter native music native pride native rights nature outdoors peace photography photography art photoshoot playing music playing music outdoors portrait portrait photographer portrait photography portraits portraiture professional activism professional photographer professional photography protest photographer protest photography protest portrait resist resistance unbroken indigenous peoples today water wisdom wooden flute