Photos connect us
This photos above includes my Grandpa, his parents and 4 of his 9 siblings (8 lived to adulthood). From a technical standpoint, the photo is not perfect, the sunlight is hard, their faces challenging to really see. But what it lacks in technical perfection, it makes up for in essence. It shows a slice of a story. The story of a family who posed together including the small dog in my Great-Grandpa's arms. Together for a bright moment in time that was sure to include my Great-Grandma's excellent cooking, and perhaps the stories they shared to catch up on each other's lives.
While I am not sure who created this photograph, I'm so grateful they did! Knowing my Grandpa, it could have been a camera on a tripod using a timer. Or, it could have been a sibling or spouse who held the camera and created this slice of their lives. That's one of the things I love about photography, it can connect us no matter how perfect or what type of camera was used.
It was one of his cameras that I was given after he died that I used to start my photography journey! From photojournalism to Weddings to portraits, I still treasure that old Contax 35mm camera and use it for personal projects and art.
While my relatives in the photo above have died, I have photos like this to help bring their stories alive in the memories I can share with my family today. Last week I had the honor of attending my tribe's Elder's Dinner and presenting on my family. Our tribe has been working to update their genealogy records going as far back as they can beyond the 1938 registration roll. And, I am excited to have been able to share documents my Great-Uncle had kept to assist in tracing our family 10 generations. I only wished we had a photograph to bring each person in the tree more to life than their name and birthday.
All to share that while it is my business to provide photography for clients, I also value them in my own family as a way to connect us. Photos connect us today and in the future.
My name is Holli Margell, I am Eastern Shawnee
While attending the Elder's Dinner last week, I enjoyed more than presenting about my family line. I also learned more about the traditional way of honoring elders. One woman was recognized in place of her husband who had since passed away, and she shared how her husband would introduce himself as Full Name, I am Eastern Shawnee.
That really stuck with me, and reminded me of the importance of showing up for our family. While my Norwegian and Yugoslavian heritage means I don't look like what folks expect to see when they meet a Native American person, I am. We are still here.
And, the other thing I was able to do while visiting was tour a new Administration building that includes a very beautiful Business Committee Meeting room. Here I am posing at the round shaped meeting table under our tribe's emblem. It's a beautiful thing to see and visit our tribe!
Much gratitude to Annette who photographed me in that moment.
