Together, IllumiNative and Indigenous Photograph have to show the strength and resilience of Indigenous communities and bring to life the issues that impact Indigenous people every day. Utilizing the findings of the Indigenous Futures Survey, the talented Indigenous photographers and creatives from Indigenous Photograph have brought their perspective and storytelling to show the richness and diversity of Native communities.

The Indigenous Futures Survey, published in 2020, surveyed over 6,400 Indigenous peoples and found 5 priorities identified by Native people as important and crucial to solve. The priorities included ending violence against Native women, children, and LGBTQ2S relatives, improving the mental health of Native peoples, caring for our elders, preserving Native languages and cultures, and protecting the land and water.

Each of these issues are complex and multifaceted and represent an opportunity to explore, comment, and illuminate these issues among Indigenous communities.

We hope you can review, reflect, and learn from the stories shared by the Indigenous creators.

IllumiNative is a Native woman-led racial and social justice organization dedicated to increasing the visibility of—and challenging the narrative about—Native peoples. Our mission is to build power for Native peoples by amplifying contemporary Native voices, stories, and issues to advance justice, equity, and self-determination. Learn more at www.IllumiNatives.org.

Indigenous Photograph is a space to elevate the work of Indigenous visual journalists and bring balance to the way we tell stories about Indigenous people and spaces. Their mission is to support the media industry in hiring more Indigenous photographers to tell the stories of their communities and to reflect on how we tell these stories.

Indigenous Futures Survey is a joint project between IllumiNative, the Native Organizers Alliance, and the RISE Center to gather and disseminate critical information and strategies about the priorities and needs of Native communities.

More information about the Indigenous Futures Survey coming soon.