First Nations Photography

PHOTOGRAPHING INDIANS

            In almost every city where the 101 Ranch Real Wild West Show exhibits the Indian village is besieged by photographers anxious to secure the perfect photographs of the Indians.  At first the Indian with characteristic pride took kindly to the efforts of the snap shooters and posed willingly in order that perfect results might be obtained.  When the photographers commenced to tender pieces of money when the photographs had been obtained the Indians wake up to the realization that their pictures had a commercial value and now they refuse to stand for any more free sittings.  Their business tact has been so well developed that they demand the money first and as such as it is given then the Indian becomes a willing subject for the photographer.  They have not decided on any regular price and a gaily colored handkerchief or hand mirror will gain a suitable subject much quicker than will a twenty dollar bill.  The strange part of it is that the Indian never expects any reward from the lady Kodak handlers and there is no limit in their posing for them.  This may be Indian gallantry but is more probable that the Indian is of the opinion that the white ladies hold the same position with their families as does the squaw with her family.  That is, she is never allowed to own anything that the Indian wants.  Chief “Many Horses” always insists that one of the photographs taken of himself be mailed to him and his teepee is adorned with many good and more bad efforts of the photographers for whom he has posed.

            The squaws have no particular in this perpetuation of their faces and would never submit to sittings or standings were it not for the fact that the bucks insist upon it in order that more rewards may come their way.  Not the way of the squaws but the way of their lord and masters, for no Indian has ever been accused of giving his squaw anything he wanted himself.  That is not Indian like.  One noticeable trait of the Indian is when he wants anything he wants it, and will sacrifice everything else he possesses in order to secure the one coveted article and frequently he will give ten times its value only to include it among his other possessions to barter for something else that may strike his peculiar fancy.