Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Aaliyah Johnson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Aaliyah , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

They instilled in me perseverance. To not give up when things get hard.

Aaliyah , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I think when my mom started her photography business way back ago, it definitely inspired me to take the same route as her. I accompanied her on her photography shoots and I’d just be her designated helper. Maybe I would carry around her camera bag or whatever else she needed. Eventually I’d go to so many photo shoots with her that I wanted to pick up the camera and take pictures, too. Of course, when I displayed my interest in wanting to take photos, she let me use her camera. One thing led to another and now eleven years later, I want to follow into my mom’s footsteps.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

The main focus of my photography work is Indigenous people. I want to show viewers that hey, Indigenous people are still here and we are a present tense people. We are thriving and so is our cultures. I want people to understand that when I take these photos because often people just do not think we exist anymore. My work contradicts that sentiment. Indigenous peoples are resilient despite what history has thrown at them.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Typically, at a Native American powwow, you will encounter many different dance styles. The more faster paced styles include the men’s fancy dance and women’s fancy shawl. These are more vigorous dances and much harder to photograph. Often my own photos have come out blurred when I attempt to take photos of these dance styles. It’s definitely not always easy to capture the fast movement of the dancers. You definitely need a lot patience. It’s all worth it in the end.

Contact Info:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Ad1uGotdP/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Youtube: @rolandajnative8609

Image Credits

Debbie Mutschler