Why indigenous people photography?

When I travel to exotic destinations I like to remember that it is I who is the foreigner not those whom I visit. Mingling in unfamiliar cultures has always fascinated me. Learning the way people have survived and flourished over the ages and how distinctly their culture has evolved from my own intrigues me. I am captivated by the similarities between geographically isolated cultures – convergent evolution of techniques and lifestyles. I am distressed however by the rapid and overwhelming cultural loss on our planet as we are homogenized into a single, amorphous mass. I see my role as a conservation photographer to include human culture and traditional way of life. I am documenting what I can, it will be a record somewhere down the line and, as has proved the case already with some of my work, has become a reference for the very tribes themselves who are using the images to return to their roots. Some of the tribes and indigenous cultures I have had the privilege and honour to photograph around the world include the: Huaorani, Cofan, Quichua, Shuar, Chagras, Aymara, Yagan, Wai Wai, Dai, Miao, Yuayao, Bai, Hani, Aini, Naxi, Sani, Black & Duli Yi, Yi & Nosi Yi, Han, Dulong, Tibetan, Yupik, Tsaatan, Mongol, Sami, Antandroy, Bara, Betsileo, Mahafaly, Sakalava, Vezo, Pygmies, Himba, Zulu, Herero, Gujarati, Rabari, Apatani, Naga, Nyshy, Adigallong, Hill Miri, Mishing and Khasi. My photographs from this genre have been used in many books, including my own such as Spirit of the Huaorani, The Origin of the Waorani and Chagras, Ecuador’s Andean Cowboys as well as in magazines such as American Cowboys and Americas.

A Brazilian 'Vaquiero' cowboy is shown in leather clothing. Photo by indigenous person photographer Pete Oxford.
Native women rest in hammocks in their hut in their territory in Yasuni National Park. Photo by conservation photographer and cultural photographer Pete Oxford.
A local woman in Fiji is shown with a flower headdress. Photo by indigenous person photographer Pete Oxford.
A Naxi girl poses for the camera in traditional dress. Photo by indigenous person photographer Pete Oxford.
A local Papuan casts his net in an attempt to catch fish. Photo by conservation photographer and cultural photographer Pete Oxford.
A Macushi child is silhouetted while running through water. Photograph by conservation photographer and cultural photographer Pete Oxford.
A chagra stands in the centre while cattle fall into line around him. Photograph by conservation photographer and cultural photographer Pete Oxford.
A man looks down from the rafters of the Amerindian Community Centre in Guyana. Photo by conservation photographer and cultural photographer Pete Oxford.
A woman shows her Sakalava face mask. Photo by indigenous person photographer Pete Oxford.
A native man shows off a Hanuman mask made for the traditional Raas Festival. Photograph by conservation photographer and cultural photographer Pete Oxford.
Ba'Kola Pygmys are shown with a hunting net walking through the forest. Photo by indigenous person and conservation photographer Pete Oxford.
An indigenous man stand on the root structure of a Kapok tree. Photograph by conservation photographer and cultural photographer Pete Oxford.
A Bai woman rests with the palm of her hand under her chin. Photo by indigenous person photographer Pete Oxford.
A girl from a Mbomo village shows off her hair style. Photograph by conservation photographer and cultural photographer Pete Oxford.
A native Apatani woman looks on with facial tattoos and nose plugs. Photo by conservation photographer and cultural photographer Pete Oxford.
A Himba girl is shown with cow peritoneum on her head. Photo by indigenous person and conservation photographer Pete Oxford.
A Salasaca Indian poses in a home while wearing traditional dress. Photo by indigenous person photographer Pete Oxford.
A Vezo fisherman exits the water with a large fish draped across his shoulders. Photo by indigenous person photographer Pete Oxford.
A native Huaorani hunter stands with the catch from his latest hunt in Yasuni National Park. Photo by conservation photographer and cultural photographer Pete Oxford.
A Rabari woman holds a child in her hands. Photo by indigenous person photographer Pete Oxford.
A native Namo Yate hunts with a lance in Yasuni National Park. Photo by conservation photographer and cultural photographer Pete Oxford.
A Konyak Naga house displays a collection of buffalo skulls. Photograph by conservation photographer and cultural photographer Pete Oxford.
A native Apatani woman sits with facial tattoos and nose plugs. Photograph by conservation photographer and cultural photographer Pete Oxford.
A Rabari woman displays her tattoos. Photo by indigenous person photographer Pete Oxford.
Tea pickers carry baskets of tea on their heads. Photo by indigenous person photographer Pete Oxford.
A Kazakh stands face to face with his golden eagle. Photograph by conservation photographer and cultural photographer Pete Oxford.
A tender moment is shared between mother and child Gobi Nomads. Photograph by conservation photographer and cultural photographer Pete Oxford.
A man sits on the edge of a havelis in Bikaner. Photo by indigenous person photographer Pete Oxford.
An Antandroy woman is shown carrying sticks on her head and a child on her back. Photo by indigenous person photographer Pete Oxford.
An indigenous woman stands with her arms crossed just inside a doorway. Photograph by indigenous photographer Pete Oxford.
A gypsy woman carries a basket on her head. Photo by indigenous person photographer Pete Oxford.
A man displays a Wai Wai headdress while leaning out of a window. Photo by indigenous person photographer Pete Oxford.
An indigenous Konyak Naga tattooed head hunter shows off his traditional dress. Photograph by conservation photographer and cultural photographer Pete Oxford.
A man shows the process for weaving split cane. Photograph by indigenous person photographer Pete Oxford.
A child looks to the camera while reaching for food with chopstix. Photo by indigenous person photographer Pete Oxford.
Khasi women line up to cross a living root bridge in Meghalaya India. Photograph by conservation photographer and cultural photographer Pete Oxford.
The catch from a home made crossbow is shown off by an indigenous person. Photograph by conservation photographer and cultural photographer Pete Oxford.
Two men are shown in traditional Corpus Christi dress. Photo by indigenous person photographer and conservation photographer Pete Oxford.
A Hani child sits next to a water buffalo. Photograph by indigenous people photographer Pete Oxford.
A Kalahari bushman is shown trying to make fire by hand. Photo by indigenous person photographer Pete Oxford.
A man paddles a reed canoe on Lake Titicaca with a floating island in the background. Photograph by indigenous people photographer Pete Oxford
cPhotograph by conservation photographer and cultural photographer Pete Oxford.
The traditional dress including a bird of paradise headdress is shown off by a native woman. Photo by conservation photographer and cultural photographer Pete Oxford.
An indigenous man from the Chang Naga headhunting Tribe displays his headdress and traditional attire. Photograph by conservation photographer and cultural photographer Pete Oxford.
An Adi Gallong man is shown wearing a cane hat. Photo by indigenous person photographer Pete Oxford.
A group of Himba children stand looking through a wooden fence. Photograph by indigenous people photographer Pete Oxford.
A Himba woman looks through the smoke coming out of her pipe at the camera. Photo by indigenous people photographer Pete Oxford.
Konyak Naga children pose for the camera. Photo by indigenous people photographer Pete Oxford.
a Mising woman stokes a fire in her house. Photo by indigenous person photographer Pete Oxford.
Cofan native people wear parrot feathers on their heads while speaking with each other. Photograph by conservation photographer and cultural photographer Pete Oxford.
An indigenous man bleeds a balata tree for the sap which produces a natural latex. Photograph by conservation photographer and cultural photographer Pete Oxford.
A man crouches over cane for basket weaving. Photo by indigenous people photographer Pete Oxford.
A native Apatani women is shown with her traditional nose plugs. Photo by conservation photographer and cultural photographer Pete Oxford.
A Konyak Naga man smiles while holding a child on his back. Photo by indigenous person photographer Pete Oxford.
A Konyak Naga tattooed headhunter poses for a photo. Photograph by conservation photographer and cultural photographer Pete Oxford.
An indigenous man readies his bow and arrow. Photo by indigenous person photographer Pete Oxford.
A bBlack Lisu woman smiles while holding a pipe in her mouth. Photograph by indigenous people photographer Pete Oxford.
A Darkhad man looks critically into the camera lens. Photograph by conservation photographer and cultural photographer Pete Oxford.