Indigenous women photographers create online community to share images, stories

Tea andBannockis a collective blogthat features the work of sevenphotographers from across the country, including co-foundersTenille Campbell, who is Dene and Mtisand Joi T. Arcand, who is Cree.

Other contributors include Shawna McLeod, aDene photographer from N.W.T.,Jessica Wood, Gitxsan from B.C., Amanda Laliberte, who isMtis, Caroline Blechert, who isInuvialuitand Claudine Bull, who is Cree.

"We're just showing that we all have these experiences and they're all different but they're all Indigenous and they're all relevant," Campbell said.

Launched in January 2016, Tea andBannock already has dozens of photo essays about thosewide range of experiences, including northern living, powwows, hunting trips,a tour of an abandoned residential school and even "Indigenous erotica."

Campbell, a Dene and Mtis woman who also runs a business called Sweetmoon Photography, said the siteand its name,were born out of a desire for a sense of community with other Indigenous women photographers aplace that feels like you are sitting around a table, enjoying tea and bannock.

"I wanted something that would evoke memories. It must be universal across Turtle Island, but I think we all have our own version of the memory of tea and bannock with our grandmas, of family, kinship and tradition," Campbell said.

Since launching the site, Campbell she's been contacted byother Indigenous women photographers from across the Americas who want to contribute. Also,she and the other contributors to the Tea andBannock blog have even begun mentoring other up and coming Indigenouswomen photographers.

See more photos from the Tea andBannock blog: