Matika Wilbur: Project 562
Mass media images of Native Americans promote stereotypes that perpetuate negative ideas about indigenous people. This presentation will explore the work of contemporary Native photographer, Matika Wilbur. Ms. Wilbur strives through her art to combat common stereotypes associated with Native peoples. By portraying indigenous people in their modern roles through photography, Matika Wilbur successfully emphasizes that Native Americans are part of living, evolving cultures rather than being stuck in the past as many common images would lead consumers to believe. As part of her Project 562, Matika Wilbur set out to photograph a member of each federally recognized tribe in the United States. By showing not only contemporary Native people, but also a representative from each tribe, Wilbur brought attention to the fact that each tribe has its own distinct culture; that Native Americans are not all the same. During the presentation, participants will see a portion of the images from Project 562 and have a chance to gain a new understanding of Native tribes in modern America.