New Volunteer Opportunity: The Indigenous Photo Archive and Lok'tamayach
Article written by Alex Rocklin and Rachel Wallis
Founded in 1992, the Indigenous Photo Archive works to train indigenous photographers in color and black and white photography. Since 1995, the Archive has worked with over 200 indigenous men and
women from10 different ethnic groups. The project helps train
photographers so that they can document their own lives and
communities. It also archives and preserves negatives and prints for
the photographers, who generally don't have the facilities to do so in
their own homes or communities. The Archive also works to put together
books and exhibition of the artists' photos, and has undertaken tours
all over the world. In 2002, the IPA was joined by Lok'tamayach (which
means Chiapanecan Mayan photographers), an organization formed and run
by the photographers working with the Archive. The association provides
training for the photographers, and has also set up a credit union,
which gives small low interest loans to the members.
The Archive and Lok'tamayach are looking for volunteers to work for at
least a minimum of one month, on projects that include everything from
photographic and darkroom instruction, computer/web programming and
database work, archiving, and writing profiles of staff photographers.
In addition to their volunteer work, every volunteer is expected to put
together a project using photos from the archive and text gathered from
interviews with the photographers. Past projects have included themes
such as music, traditional beliefs, and Plan Pueblo Panama. For more
information on the Indigenous Photo Archive, contact us at
info@chiapaspeacehouse.org, and we will put you in touch with Carlota
Duarte, the founder.
Founded in 1992, the Indigenous Photo Archive works to train indigenous photographers in color and black and white photography. Since 1995, the Archive has worked with over 200 indigenous men and
women from10 different ethnic groups. The project helps train
photographers so that they can document their own lives and
communities. It also archives and preserves negatives and prints for
the photographers, who generally don't have the facilities to do so in
their own homes or communities. The Archive also works to put together
books and exhibition of the artists' photos, and has undertaken tours
all over the world. In 2002, the IPA was joined by Lok'tamayach (which
means Chiapanecan Mayan photographers), an organization formed and run
by the photographers working with the Archive. The association provides
training for the photographers, and has also set up a credit union,
which gives small low interest loans to the members.
The Archive and Lok'tamayach are looking for volunteers to work for at
least a minimum of one month, on projects that include everything from
photographic and darkroom instruction, computer/web programming and
database work, archiving, and writing profiles of staff photographers.
In addition to their volunteer work, every volunteer is expected to put
together a project using photos from the archive and text gathered from
interviews with the photographers. Past projects have included themes
such as music, traditional beliefs, and Plan Pueblo Panama. For more
information on the Indigenous Photo Archive, contact us at
info@chiapaspeacehouse.org, and we will put you in touch with Carlota
Duarte, the founder.
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