Long before Instagram and selfies, photographers captured something profound – the faces and stories of Native American men during a time of tremendous change. These 32 remarkable photographs from over a century ago aren't just historical artifacts; they're windows into the dignity, strength, and humanity of people whose world was transforming before their eyes. Taken during the late 1800s and early 1900s, these portraits show leaders, warriors, fathers, and elders – real people, not Hollywood stereotypes. Each image tells a story that deserves to be remembered and respected. These aren't just old photographs; they're powerful reminders of America's complex history and the resilient spirit of its first peoples.
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Bone Necklace, Oglala Lakota Chief, 1899, Photo By Heyn Photo
An Apache, Photo By F.a. Hartwell, Phoenix, Az. Ca.1880-1890
Two Little Braves, Sac & Fox, 1898
A Klamath Chief Stands On A Hill Above Crater Lake, Oregon, 1923
Sioux Chiefs, 1905
Chief John Smith (Chippewa Indian), It Was Tought That He Lived To 132 Y.o
Young Man Afraid Of His Horses And His Tepee Taken At, Sioux, 1891
Teddy Roosevelt Shaking Hands With A Native American Man, 1912
Philip Return From Scout, Lakota, Ca. 1880-1900, Photo By Geoffrey Duncan
"Sits Down Spotted," Crow Warrior, Fort Keogh, Montana, 1881, Photo By L.A. Huffman
A Native American Indian, C. 1900
Eagle Bear, Sioux, 1898
Black Man, Arapahoes, 1898
In Summer, Kiowa, 1898
Standing Native American, C. 1910
White Man Runs Him, Crow, 1912
A Canadian Cree Indian, 1920s
Indian Chief, 1920s
Sioux Indian American Chief
Hubble Big Horse, Cheyenne, 1898
Spotted Jack Rabbit, Crow, 1898
Yellow Magpie, Arapahoe, 1899
Red Cloud, 1880
White Swan, Crow, 1898
Native American In Headdress, C. 1910
Eagle Arrow, A Siksika Man, Montana, Early 1900s, Glass Lantern Slide By Walter Mcclintock
Chief American Horse, Sioux, 1898
Chief Grant Richards, Tonkawa, 1898
Jack Red Cloud, Sioux, 19th Century
High Bear, Sioux, 1898
Pablino Diaz, Kiowa, 1899
Chief Sitting Bull, Hunkpapa Lakota, 1895-1900, Photo By F. A. Rinehart
The name "Edward S. Curtis" under several images caught my eye. There's essay about romanticizing Indigenous people: https://www.photoethics.org/content/2021/2/24/edward-curtis-and-the-north-american-indian-an-exploration-of-truth-and-objectivity
A few years ago, I attended an exhibition of photos by C.D. Hoy. Since he was running a portrait studio as a business, he didn't bring romantic notions to his work. He was a Chinese immigrant who was fortunate to bring over his family before Canada's Chinese Exclusion Act would have barred them. The Chinese Exclusion Act left many men alone and isolated from their families for decades. More at: https://www.aci-iac.ca/the-essay/through-the-lens-of-cd-hoy/
Load More Replies...The name "Edward S. Curtis" under several images caught my eye. There's essay about romanticizing Indigenous people: https://www.photoethics.org/content/2021/2/24/edward-curtis-and-the-north-american-indian-an-exploration-of-truth-and-objectivity
A few years ago, I attended an exhibition of photos by C.D. Hoy. Since he was running a portrait studio as a business, he didn't bring romantic notions to his work. He was a Chinese immigrant who was fortunate to bring over his family before Canada's Chinese Exclusion Act would have barred them. The Chinese Exclusion Act left many men alone and isolated from their families for decades. More at: https://www.aci-iac.ca/the-essay/through-the-lens-of-cd-hoy/
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