Beautiful Historical Photos Show The Original People Of Western Canada
Studio photographer Harry Pollard spent time documenting the beauty and resilience of members of several tribes.
His breathtaking collection included the Tsuu T’ina, Siksika, Kainai, and Piikani tribes, captured in traditional dress.
Interestingly, the historic images, which can be found on the Provincial Archives of Alberta, include the individuals' names and tell a story in themselves.
Many of the titles are themed around nature, like Lone Walking Buffalo and Running Antelope. Others focus on their status within the tribe, like an individual Pollard met called Spring Chief.
Pollard was born in Ontario, Canada in 1880 and specialised in photographing native people. As a young photographer, he arrived in Calgary in 1899 and opened a studio there.
He was later commission to produce promotional pictures of ocean cruises, which saw him travel around the world 14 times.
His breathtaking collection included the Tsuu T’ina tribe, whose population had fallen to just a few hundred members when the pictures were taken circa 1910. Thankfully, numbers have since risen to a couple of thousand individuals.
Wolfe Teeth of Nakoda Nation
"Walking Buffalo of Nakoda Nation."
"Herbert Lawrence of Siksika Nation."
Martin Breaker, Nakoda Nation."
A very respected elder, Betty Hunter from the Nakoda Nation
Here a meeting of the Siksika Council is captured on camera
Spring Chief of Tsuu T'ina Nation
Big Belly, the Tsuu T'ina chief
Hunting Eagle of Nakoda Nation
Chief White Head, the Nakoda chief
These elaborate teepees stood out against the rolling landscape in the Assiniboine camp, one of the many areas Pollard captured
Lone Walking Buffalo, Nakoda Nation
His breathtaking collection included the Tsuu T’ina, Siksika, Kainai, and Piikani tribes, captured in traditional dress.
Interestingly, the historic images, which can be found on the Provincial Archives of Alberta, include the individuals' names and tell a story in themselves.
Many of the titles are themed around nature, like Lone Walking Buffalo and Running Antelope. Others focus on their status within the tribe, like an individual Pollard met called Spring Chief.
Pollard was born in Ontario, Canada in 1880 and specialised in photographing native people. As a young photographer, he arrived in Calgary in 1899 and opened a studio there.
He was later commission to produce promotional pictures of ocean cruises, which saw him travel around the world 14 times.
Running Antelope, Tsuu T'ina Medicine Man
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