Canadian photographer, Harry Pollard spent time photographing the people who made up the First Nations in Alberta, Canada in 1910.
The First Nations are recognized as the Aboriginal people of Canada; this excludes the Metis and Inuit, who are separate from this group distinction.
Jim Rabbit, Kainai Nation Photo Credit
Betty Hunter, Nakoda Nation Photo Credit
Big Belly, Tsuu T’ina Chief Photo Credit
Martin Breaker, Nakoda Nation Photo Credit
Wide Face Chief of Piikani Nation Photo Credit
Portrait of Black Feather Photo Credit
Mrs. Thomas of Tsuu T’ina Nation Photo Credit
Black Plume, Kainai Nation Photo Credit
In particular, one can see the way of life that these people lived through Pollard’s still life photography from his time spent in the Assiniboine camp. Many of the photographs are single portraits of various adults from the Nakoda Nation, Siksika Nation, and Kainai Nation, as well as many others.
The still-life pictures show the majesty of spirit in these people, as well as the great talent of the photographer when capturing the essence of his subjects.
Kainai women and dog travois Photo Credit
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Peter Wesley, Nakoda Nation Photo Credit
Harry Pollard Photo Credit
Lone Walking Buffalo, Nakoda Nation Photo Credit
A 2001 Canadian census reported that nearly 85,000 Albertans considered themselves to be “North American Indians,” and by 2011 this has risen to nearly 117,000, or 13% of the total First Nation people in Canada.
This fact gave Alberta the status of having the third largest First Nation population of all the provinces. Half of the population is registered as living on a reserve land, while the rest are off-reserve. Many of the First Nation people living off-reserve are urban dwellers, with a large proportion of them living in Edmonton, the provincial capital. The population living off-reserve in Edmonton is approximately 18,000 people, according to the 2011 census; this is the second highest of any city in Canada.
White Buckskin, Kainai Nation Photo Credit
Running Antelope, Tsuu T’ina shaman Photo Credit
There are also nearly 20,000 people in the 2011 census in Alberta who claim to have some North American identity but are not registered in the official Indian Register.
In Alberta, there are 48 First Nation groups with a council and chief; these 48 groups belong to nine ethnic tribes, based on their ancestral languages.