Speaking with Light: Contemporary Indigenous Photography

by John Rohrbach (Editor), Will Wilson (Editor), Patricia Norby (Introduction), Jennifer Denetdale (Contributor), Paul Chaat Smith (Contributor), Jolene Rickard (Contributor), Mishuana Goeman (Contributor)

This groundbreaking project summarizes how contemporary Indigenous photographers have taken over the conversation about how their cultures and lives are depicted through their dynamic embrace of three interwoven themes: Survivance, Nation and Indigenous Visuality. These photographers enact a key shift away from privileging settler-colonialism, foregrounding instead an Indigenous sense of community and visuality. Speaking with Light reveals and examines these Indigenous artists’ explorations of themes such as identity, the contribution of customary practice to contemporary life, belonging and the assistance that Indigenous worldviews can provide to building healthier relationships with each other and the earth.