Zig Jackson: The Journey of Rising Buffalo brings together the performative and documentary approaches of photographer Zig Jackson, whose work sheds light on the everyday realities of Native American life. With a focus on community, sovereignty, and environmental respect, Jackson challenges misconceptions and reclaims Indigenous narratives through his lens.
A member of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara tribes, Jackson grew up on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota and attended several boarding schools, including the Intermountain Indian School in Utah. There, he forged lasting connections with peers from various tribes, realizing the shared struggles Indigenous communities face across the country.
Jackson’s photography often engages with stereotypes to critique them. In some works, he dons a feathered headdress, performing exaggerated “Indian” tropes to expose their absurdity. In another series, he disrupts Western notions of land ownership by placing signs reading *“Entering Zig’s Reservation”* in public spaces, reclaiming landscapes that have long been sites of Indigenous displacement.
His practice is deeply personal, serving as a visual archive of travels across North America, visits with friends, and everyday life on reservations. Through quiet yet powerful images, he explores complex social realities, including family structures, homelessness, veterans’ experiences, substance abuse, and access to natural resources.
Blending humor with profound social critique, Jackson’s work offers an authentic and dynamic portrayal of contemporary Indigenous life. His photographs challenge marginalization while celebrating resilience, documenting both the hardships and the joys of Native communities with honesty and depth.
Image: Zig Jackson (Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation, b. 1957), Indian Man on Bus, 1994, from Indian Man in San Francisco. Inkjet print. Loan courtesy the artist, © 2025 Zig Jackson / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
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