See yourself in your own eyes

How do we see ourselves?

Several years ago I was a volunteer photography mentor, teaching a young girl under the care of Child and Family Services the basics of photography. Back then everyone still used real film and had to know about things like F-stops and light meters.

I had a lot of fun with that girl, hanging out and setting up photo shoots around the city. It was one of the highlights of my summer.

Well, now with digital cameras everywhere, the art of photography is a lot more accessible. So it's time to take an old idea off the shelf.

Let me introduce "The Mamawayawin Photography Challenge." Mamawayawin means "living in a community" or "all together" in Cree.

The Mamawayawin Challenge is a photography contest for aboriginal people. The idea is straightforward: take a great photo of an important aspect or reflection of your community.

So many times we see ourselves reflected through the eyes of other people instead of our own. There are history textbook drawings, movies and documentaries, or photographs in a newspaper. There are a million different versions of who aboriginal people are and what their lives look like.

Granted, this isn't a bad thing; since often through other peoples' eyes we get to uncover certain truths in ourselves we might not have otherwise seen. It could be bad things and good things too.

But an outside point of view isn't the only definition that's important.

How do we truly see ourselves?

This is a chance to show that. If we don't document our communities, our people and our culture -- whether it's traditional or urban -- how can the understanding or the nature of a community be completely genuine?

Now, nothing is concrete yet, but I'm definitely going to offer prizes to the winners of this contest.

This isn't a contest for the pros, so all you sharpshooters out there are out of luck. I do want young aboriginal photographers to enter this contest, because their outlook isn't seen often enough. I'm also thinking it would be great to have an adult and elders category as well.

Although my primary focus is my own neighbourhood, Winnipeg's North End, I know there are a ton of great aboriginal photographers who live in other areas of the city too.

Should I focus on the North End in the first year, then the rest of the city the next year?

I'd also love to see photographs coming from communities like The Pas, Garden Hill, St. Laurent and Brandon.

Maybe there should be rural and urban categories.

I want glam photos, environmental photos, family portraits, funny and sad shots, artsy pics and gritty scenes if that's what speaks to you. This is your chance to show your community and what's important to you.

Maybe community means kicking back at home watching Dancing with the Stars with your kokum and eating fry bread. Maybe it means dancing at a pow wow, or skateboarding. The possibilities are endless.

It's up to you to define what Mamawayawin really means.

Now I'm not sure what the prizes will be yet, or who will be the judges in this very informal competition.

I do know I'm going to run this contest for several months, so it can be done right. And I'd like some help from all of you to figure out the finer details.

Send me your feedback everyone. I hope you are just as excited about the Mamawayawin Challenge as I am.

What would make good prizes, what about categories, and what should the final product be for the Mamawayawin Challenge photographs?

I look forward to hearing your thoughts, ideas, and input.

Colleen Simard is a Winnipeg writer.

colleen.simard@gmail.com

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 19, 2011 j6