Photographers

Barbara Stewart has spent her life around the rodeo arena. Her father, David Perry, was a well-known stock contractor, and her mother, Joan, is a championship barrel racer. Barb herself won the Western Indian Rodeo Association Barrel Racing Championship in 1984. In recent years, she has worked for the Secwepemc band and tribal councils, and in her spare time has discovered new talents as a photographer and museum consultant. Her images convey the romance and excitement associated with rodeo life.

Jim Goodstriker (1937-1997) began his career as a sports reporter and photographer for the Kainai News in the early 1960s. In 1968, he turned his attention to rodeo, eventually becoming one of western Canada's best-known Native rodeo photographers. Jim won many awards for his work. He was the official photographer for the Indian Rodeo Cowboys Association, and the National Indian Rodeo Finals (1976 to 1982), by invitation. Jim also worked for about five Native and non-Native rodeo associations.

Standing Alone Elk is my Ktunaxa (Kutenai) name. My name given to me at birth and what everybody knows me as is Troy Hunter. I am a member of the Saint Mary's Band, which is in southeast British Columbia, Canada. The priests named the Indian Reserve where I am from, but my people call it A'q'am. It is a beautiful place. The Rocky Mountains stand forever in my backyard.

My first camera was given to me by an Elder when I was a child. I can still remember how much fun I had taking pictures with that camera. I was always looking for that something extra-special that I could capture on film. When I was ten years old, I made a pinhole camera and developed prints in the darkroom. I knew then that I would always love photography.

Truly photography is my passion. When I'm behind the camera lens and I'm looking through the viewfinder at a great image, I get very excited. Nothing pleases me more than to hear that sound of the lens shutter clicking as it opens and then quickly snapping shut. That sound is the sound of artwork. The feeling, the passion, the joy, they all give to me a natural high that is so important to us as human beings to have.

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