Beyond Bison: Returning Land to the Original Stewards

After 113 years, the federal government returned nearly 19,000 acres of land, unlawfully taken to create the National Bison Range, to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. This marks a significant victory in the landback movement. But what does landback look like in action? For tribes across the country, it’s not just about reclaiming territory—it’s about restoring their deep cultural and ecological connections. The return of the Bison Range is another step toward reclaiming stewardship, enabling tribes to manage the land as they have for centuries, and ensuring the survival of cultural practices, ecological balance, and sacred sites. This story focuses on why Tribal Nations’ history with the land make them the best stewards, and how the genocide of the land is the genocide of the people.

Artist Bios

Tailyr Irvine

Tailyr Irvine is a Salish and Kootenai photojournalist based in Montana and Florida. She was born and raised on the Flathead Reservation in Montana, where she noticed a lack of meaningful media coverage in her community.

The prevalent Native American stereotypes in mainstream media led Tailyr to pursue a career in journalism. Tailyr is working on multiple projects in Indian Country, and she hopes to spend the rest of her career telling stories of Indigenous communities, featuring the complex and diverse Native experience.

Tailyr graduated from the University of Montana with a degree in journalism. When she is not actively working on projects in Indian Country, Tailyr enjoys sports photography, and pursues other editorial projects unrelated to her race.

Organizations

Leica Camera

Ignite your passion for photography with Leica Camera at Photoville

Experience the world of Leica photography at Photoville through a selection of curated photo walks and panels. From Seeing in Monochrome to Moments in Focus, you’ll experience Leica photography and guidance by acclaimed Leica photographers.

Leica Camera is founded on a tradition of optical excellence and a conscious focus on the essentials of exquisite image making. For over a century, the brand has motivated visual storytelling through the quintessential union of craftsmanship, design and experience, providing essential tools that influence the art, culture, and creation of photography. Photoville attendees can see this firsthand at the Leica Pavilion, which will showcase a one-of-a-kind photographic experience through a variety of interactive Leica activities designed to ignite your passion for photography.

https://leicacamerausa.com/
Photoville

Founded in 2011 in Brooklyn, NY, Photoville was built on the principles of addressing cultural equity and inclusion, which we are always striving for, by ensuring that the artists we exhibit are diverse in gender, class, and race.

In pursuit of its mission, Photoville produces an annual, city-wide open air photography festival in New York City, a wide range of free educational community initiatives, and a nationwide program of public art exhibitions.

By activating public spaces, amplifying visual storytellers, and creating unique and highly innovative exhibition and programming environments, we join the cause of nurturing a new lens of representation.

Through creative partnerships with festivals, city agencies, and other nonprofit organizations, Photoville offers visual storytellers, educators, and students financial support, mentorship, and promotional & production resources, on a range of exhibition opportunities.

For more information about Photoville visit, www.photoville.com