One of the joys and perks of living in Northern Minnesota is access to incredible starry night skies and the occasional glimpse of the northern lights.
In the new book, Spirits Dancing: The Night Sky, Indigenous Knowledge and Living Connections to the Cosmos, we get even more of the skies with over 150 stunning photographs, as well as an exploration of the science and early teachings of the auroras.
The book is a collaboration between artist and astrophysicist Annette S. Lee and Grand Portage photographer Travis Novitsky. In a recent What We’re Reading interview, Novitsky described how the Minnesota Historical Society Press reached out to him about publishing a book on his photography.
“At the time I felt like I didn’t have enough photos to fill a whole book. But the editor said, ‘I feel the opposite. I feel you have more than enough great material there to put a book together.’”
Lee, the designer of Native Skywatchers — an initiative seeking to remember and revitalize Indigenous star and earth knowledge — was asked to write the text of the book because of her expertise in the science and cultural aspects of the northern lights. The book was released in November and Novitsky said the response has been positive, but it’s surreal to see this project finally come together.
Along with the science and cultural stories, Spirits Dancing also includes early Indigenous teachings. For example, Novitsky noted the Ojibwe have the phrase jiibayag niimi`idiwag, meaning “there are spirits in the sky and they're dancing.”
Another Ojibwe word provides a different way of describing the auroras: waasanoode, or “a flashing light wind.”
"Jiibayag niimi`idiwag: there are spirits in the sky and they're dancing.”Travis Novitsky, photographer
“I think that's cool because that's literally what the aurora is from the science perspective, right?” Novitsky explained. “When the aurora occurs, a lot of times it's from the solar wind. And it's these lights that occur from particles in our atmosphere combined with this plasma that's coming from the sun.
“And when those things collide in our atmosphere, they ignite and create different colored lights that are blowing in our atmosphere.”
Novitsky has been a photographer for over 20 years. His appreciation for the night sky harkens back to his childhood when he would go out at night with his father, who is also a photographer. Trial and error, technological advancements in cameras, and living in a naturally beautiful area with dark night skies helped him hone his skills.
“I learned early on that I should appreciate whatever I see that night because odds are I'm not going to see northern lights. But you know all those other nights had cool things to experience in their own right. And I wouldn't have experienced those if I wasn't out there.”Travis Novitsky, photographer
When it comes to advice about photographing the northern lights, Novitsky offered some basics, such as watching the space weather forecast and being farther north and away from the city lights. But just as important, he says not to get too hung up on whether the lights appear or not. Just get out there and enjoy.
“I learned early on that I should appreciate whatever I see that night, because odds are I'm not going to see northern lights. But you know, all those other nights had cool things to experience in their own right. And I wouldn't have experienced those if I wasn't out there.”
Spirits Dancing: The Night Sky, Indigenous Knowledge and Living Connections to the Cosmos was published by the Minnesota Historical Society Press.
You can see Travis Novitsky’s photography on his website.
Interview extras
Travis Novitsky extra
On the northern Dene in Canada and their words for northern lights.
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On Travis choosing photos for the book.
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