Photographer Sharon Hoogstraten, who spent 12 years photographing Potawatomi and their regalia, spoke at the Evanston Public Library. “Regalia is our story,” said Hoogstraten. Native Americans create ornaments to make art and connect with their culture, she said. “It is a living, evolving thing.” Hoogstraten took about 250 portraits of members from nine Potawatomi tribes across North America. During that time, she discovered she is a descendent of Antoine and Archange Ouilmette, who settled in the Evanston area in 1826 and were given land by the federal government encompassing most of present-day Wilmette. Hoogstraten is the author of the new book Dancing for Our Tribe: Potawatomi Tradition in the New Millennium. She is standing next to one of her photos. (Photo by Richard Cahan)
Richard Cahan
Richard Cahan takes photos for the Evanston RoundTable. He also is publisher of CityFiles Press, a small but mighty media company that believes in the power of words and pictures. You can reach him at... More by Richard Cahan
I have seen Sharon’s work before. She is so talented