A Brief But Spectacular take on questions of belonging

Key Concepts

• Blood Quantum: A system used by the U.S. government (and adopted by tribes) to define Native American identity based on a fraction representing ancestral lineage.
• Tribal Enrollment: The process of officially recognizing an individual as a member of a federally recognized Native American tribe, often dependent on meeting blood quantum requirements.
• Nuanced Portrayal: Representing Native American life beyond stereotypical images, focusing on contemporary experiences and community strength.
• Reservation Mathematics: The title of Tailyr Irvine’s photo project exploring the impact of blood quantum on personal relationships and tribal continuity.

Photographing Identity: Tailyr Irvine on Blood Quantum and Belonging

Tailyr Irvine, a photojournalist from the Flathead Reservation in Montana, discusses her work challenging conventional representations of Native American life and her project, “Reservation Mathematics: Navigating Love in Native America.” Her work aims to move beyond stereotypical imagery – “not the still life, not the satiric, not sad, not vulnerable, but just powerful communities” – and present a more complete and contemporary picture of Native communities.

Early Influences and the Power of Photography

Irvine initially didn’t consider photography a viable career path, growing up on the Flathead Reservation in Northwest Montana. However, a Media History and Literacy class in college, specifically a chapter on photography and images from 9/11, profoundly impacted her. She was struck by “the power of photography to connect people and to make us realize we're more alike than different,” inspiring her to tell stories from her home in a similarly impactful way. Her core goal became “to photograph Natives being people,” emphasizing their integration into a broader world and challenging external perceptions.

The System of Blood Quantum

A central focus of Irvine’s work is the U.S. government-imposed system of blood quantum. This system assigns each Native American a fractional amount of Native ancestry at birth, determining eligibility for tribal enrollment. The specific quantum required varies by tribe; for the Salish and Kootenai tribe (Irvine’s father’s tribe), it’s a quarter (1/4).

This system creates unique challenges, particularly in matters of love and family. Irvine explains that because her parents are members of different tribes (Crow and Salish and Kootenai), choosing which tribe to enroll her with immediately halved her blood quantum to 7/16s. This means that to ensure her future children are eligible for tribal enrollment, she must partner with someone also enrolled in the Salish and Kootenai tribe. She articulates the weight of this situation, stating that failing to do so could contribute to “my tribe going extinct.”

“Reservation Mathematics” and Visualizing the Abstract

Irvine faced a significant conceptual challenge in visually representing blood quantum, describing it as “not a real number” and “not a real thing that exists.” She found a unique opportunity to address this through the simultaneous pregnancies of her siblings – one with a partner from the tribe, and two with partners not from the tribe. This provided a direct visual comparison and allowed her to explore the implications of blood quantum on family formation.

The project’s intention is to foster empathy and connection. Irvine hopes viewers will see themselves in the photographs, thinking “oh, that could be me, that could be my sister, my brother.” She believes photography transcends language barriers, allowing viewers to “put themselves into my culture for a second or two” and understand the human impact of these policies.

The Importance of Nuance and Representation

Irvine’s initial reluctance to photograph Native people in traditional regalia stemmed from a desire to broaden the narrative. She wanted to showcase the diversity and contemporary realities of Native life, moving beyond limited and often stereotypical representations. As she states, her aim is to show “the other side of what Native America looks like from somebody who’s from Native America.”

Conclusion

Tailyr Irvine’s work powerfully illustrates the complex and often unseen consequences of government policies on Native American identity and community. Through her project, “Reservation Mathematics,” she not only sheds light on the challenges posed by blood quantum but also emphasizes the importance of nuanced representation and the power of photography to foster understanding and connection. Her work serves as a poignant reminder that identity is not simply a matter of numbers, but a deeply personal and culturally significant experience.