Self-Portrait
Blood Quantum
This photography series is a continuation of my "kill the man. save the Indian." series I posted about last September. It explores further the ideas and feelings behind the use of blood quantum to establish tribal identity. Native Americans/Alaska Natives are the only groups of people on the planet that utilize this archaic means of determining ethnic and racial identity. Only dogs and livestock are treated this way.
Blood quantum was created during the mid-late 19th century when US scientists were heavily into eugenics and finding physical ways to measure race through physical means. We since have found out that race is a social construct, there is NO genetic basis. Blood quantum is a tool of genocide and if our tribal governments don't start looking at alternative, and dare I say it, more traditional and ethical ways of determining membership, we will extinct ourselves...do the math.
I would like to revisit this idea and reshoot it at some point. I received excellent critique and feedback from my class.
My main goal was to create a
psychological and emotional environment that visually represented my struggles with my mixed ethnic/racial identity.
Thanks to Rebecca Cheney for her technical assistance.
This images were taken at two recent clear cuts near Scappoose and Cornelius, Oregon
off Rocky Point Rd.
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