As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, women of the Blackfeet Nation are working to revive a medicinal plant pushed toward extinction by the country’s expansion. The spread of farming in the West—particularly when tribes were forced to adopt agriculture or risk losing their allotments—devastated the delicate ecosystems that sweetgrass depends on.
For the Blackfeet Nation, women have traditionally been the keepers of plant knowledge, passing down skills and teachings through the harvesting of plants. As sweetgrass growth declined, the cultural practices and ceremonies that rely on this medicinal plant were also placed at risk.
The Women’s Grass follows a group of Blackfeet women as they work to restore sweetgrass, a plant central to many ceremonies including one of their oldest, the Beaver Ceremony. By reconnecting with the knowledge from the beaver, they are reclaiming both the plant and the cultural teachings it holds.
Artist Bios
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Whitney Snow
Whitney Snow is a documentary photographer whose work examines the Blackfeet Nation and the various challenges it faces as an Indigenous and rural community. Through her lens, she delves into the intricate aspects of cultural identity, exploring the intersection of tradition and contemporary life. Her photography also emphasizes environmentalism, illustrating the unique relationship between the Blackfeet people and their natural surroundings. Whitney is committed to language revitalization, documenting efforts to preserve and promote the Blackfeet language, which is integral to the community’s heritage. By emphasizing these themes, she highlights the importance of preserving knowledge and building resilience in Indigenous communities as they face ongoing challenges.
Organizations
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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
The Women’s Grass
Featuring: Whitney Snow
Curated by: Tailyr Irvine
Supported by:
Locations
View Location Details Download a detailed map of this location Brooklyn Bridge Park – Emily Warren Roebling Plaza1 Water St
Brooklyn, NY 11201
This location is part of Brooklyn Bridge Park
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The views and opinions expressed in this exhibit are those of the exhibition artists and partners and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Photoville or any other participants and partners of the Photoville Festival.
This project is supported, in part, by the National Endowment for the Arts.
