Carlotta Cardana
The Red Road
Our blog this week explores ‘The Red Road’ by Carlotta Cardana. Her portrait ‘Evereta Thinn’ (below) was selected for Portrait Salon 2014.
Everita Thinn
‘The Red Road started as a collaboration between myself and one of my closest friends, Danielle SeeWalker, who is an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and has stayed connected with her culture despite living off the reservation as an adult. Our project began as a dream of two friends that wanted to one day team-up and capture the Native American culture in a positive way. We were tired of seeing the same sad story of how depressed and underprivileged the Native people are. Our idea is to showcase the beauty and strength of these people by way of photographs, stories, and art with a traveling exhibition and a book.’
Juanita Toledo
Sarah Jumping Eagle
‘“Cultural genocide” is a large part of Native American history but is not taught in schools or communicated to the masses. In The Red Road project, we want to illustrate how this culture has had to overcome “cultural genocide” and highlight not only the backlash of their struggles but bring forth the strength, sovereignty, and pride among these people. Native Americans represent only 1% of the United States’ population so it’s not inconceivable to say that it’s a huge struggle to have their voices heard. Combating stereotypes every day and seeing their cultural traditions, practices and languages slowly vanish by various attempts of assimilation is quite devastating, yet there are so many inspiring Native people out there who don’t give up and are working so hard to make a difference for their people.’
Thipiziwin Young
Sage Honga
‘Tribal people today suffer a sort of forced segregation at the very bottom of American society on every indicator; from the 88% unemployment rate to the world’s second lowest life expectancy, Indian reservations stand as third world islands in the biggest economy on Earth. Issues such as drug & alcohol addiction, sexual abuse, poverty, crime and the highest suicide rates in the country are just some of the residual scars left on today’s generations and are often the only things highlighted in mainstream media about this rich and dynamic culture. Jean Houston once said, “If you keep telling the same sad small story, you will keep living the same sad small life”; it’s through The Red Road project that we will stop telling the same sad story and start inspiring positive change.’
Heather Abeita
Kelli Brooke
‘Our dream became a reality in 2013 when we began to develop this project. In 2014 we were commissioned to do a portrait series and article focusing on Native women that was published in several editions of Marie Claire around the world. The feature’s popularity has opened up several more opportunities for us to visit additional tribes and spend intimate time in the communities. We both can’t wait to be back on the road next month!’
Carlotta Cardana is an Italian portrait and documentary photographer based in London. In 2013, she was named “Discovery of the Year” at the Lucie Awards. She was also among the winners of the New York Photo Awards, the PDN Photo Annual, the LensCulture Exposure Awards and the Association of Photographers Open Awards. She was shortlisted for the 2014 Sony World Photography Awards.
carlottacardana.com
@carlottaroid
James O Jenkins