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Sanford photo installation featuring Native youths to be unveiled May 4

Four people wade up a creek surrounded by tall grasses in an open area buffeted by trees. It's summertime and the sun is shining.
Waabinoo Littlewolf
/
Watermark Art Center
One of the pieces selected for a permanent installation at Sanford Bemidji Medical Center. This photo by Waabinoo Littlewolf of White Earth Nation was taken as part of the Watermark Art Center’s 2022 summer photography camp and exhibit, “Bi-dibaajimowag -The Eagles Come Telling Stories.”

The collection showcases photography by four middle and high school youths who committed to a two-week photography camp under the mentorship of artist-in-residence Falcon Gott of Sapotaweyak Cree Nation and three other area professional photographers.

BEMIDJI — Photos shot by Native American youths will be included as part of a permanent art installation inside Sanford Bemidji Medical Center.

The installation will feature works from the Watermark Art Center’s 2022 summer photography camp and exhibit, “Bi-dibaajimowag -The Eagles Come Telling Stories.”

The grand reveal is 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 4, in the Medical Center Hallway art gallery near the east entrance across from the administrative offices. The public is welcome.

Close up image of a monarch butterfly on milkweed, with the sun shining through the wings and the silhouette of the plant casting a shadow.
Precious Jourdain
/
Watermark Art Center
One of the pieces selected for a permanent installation at Sanford Bemidji Medical Center. This photo by Precious Jourdain of Red Lake Nation was taken as part of the Watermark Art Center’s 2022 summer photography camp and exhibit, “Bi-dibaajimowag -The Eagles Come Telling Stories.”

The collection showcases photography by four middle and high school youths who committed to a two-week photography camp under the mentorship of artist-in-residence Falcon Gott of Sapotaweyak Cree Nation and three other area professional photographers.

The student artists include Precious Jourdain of Red Lake Nation, Waabinoo Littlewolf of White Earth Nation, Waasebiik Belgarde of Red Lake Nation and Malachi Norris of Red Lake Nation.

A blue sky with puffy clouds over an almost perfectly still lake, with seeded heads of grass in the foreground.
Malachi Norris
/
Watermark Art Center
One of the pieces selected for a permanent installation at Sanford Bemidji Medical Center. This photo by Malachi Norris of Red Lake Nation was taken as part of the Watermark Art Center’s 2022 summer photography camp and exhibit, “Bi-dibaajimowag -The Eagles Come Telling Stories.”

The photographers are Watermark exhibiting artist Ne-Dah-Ness Rose Greene, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe; Institute of American Indian Arts student intern Ixel Janine, White Earth Nation; and Project Director Gizhiigin Arts Incubator Joe Allen of Sicangu Lakota Oyate and White Earth Nation.

Watermark Art Center partnered with Gizhiigin Arts Incubator to initiate the camp. Slideshows of the student work may be viewed at watermarkartcenter.org/bi-dibaajimowag-the-eagles-come-telling-stories.

The permanent installation at Sanford Health is an initiative from the Care of Our Native American Population Charter in working to create a welcoming and inclusive environment within Sanford Health of Northern Minnesota, a news release stated.

Close up image of yellow and black striped dragonfly on the bright magenta stigma of a flower.
Waasebiik Belgarde
/
Watermark Art Center
One of the pieces selected for a permanent installation at Sanford Bemidji Medical Center. This photo by Waasebiik Belgarde of Red Lake Nation was taken as part of the Watermark Art Center’s 2022 summer photography camp and exhibit, “Bi-dibaajimowag -The Eagles Come Telling Stories.”

“SHNM is committed to provide meaningful delivery of care and services to American Indian populations by providing culturally sensitive and relevant care,” according to the release.

Contact Sanford Health for more information regarding the reception and permanent installation, Erin.Echternach@SanfordHealth.org or 218-333-4903.