Artist Statement
For the last few decades there has been a massive attack on indigenous women of the United States as well as Canada, and parts of Mexico. These women have been taken and forced into sex trafficking, have been sexually assaulted, and some are murdered. Many have been reported missing with little to nothing being done about it. In the record breaking year of 2016 there were 5,712 missing women reported by tribal officials but only 116 where actually recorded in the United States Department of Justice, the number of missing and murdered women are still rising. A small percentage of those women who have gone missing have been girls as young as the age of 10. Native American women under the age of 35 are at a higher risk of being murdered than many other groups which makes it the third most prevalent cause of death among indigenous women. 95% of these cases never make it to the media, it is my determination to make changes and bring forth awareness, and to change lives.
My Recent Work “ Here… Our Voices, Our MMIW Movement”, focuses on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women movement. In my work I photograph indigenous women and in some cases their daughters. I traveled to various tribal areas in both California and surrounding states to hear their stories, feel the pain, and be able to comfort the many indigenous sisters who each had a connection to this movement. Each portrait is captured in a way that words can not describe, These powerful women have payed tribute to memories to their lost loved ones, and their strength stand for others who can't. Within these photos there is a red hand print which stands for solidarity and a moment of silence for the ones lost, each woman wore it proudly. When the moment we shared together passed, I had them write a statement of how they were feeling at that moment and why they stepped forward to do this series. They shared their story, memories, and connections to the MMIW. My vision for this series is to touch lives and prove that you can stand up, speak up, and that one day this epidemic will stop!