Aboriginal Youth Tell Their Stories With Photographs June 21, 2011         

 More than 50 Aboriginal youth are showcasing their images and stories in an online gallery. With support from the province and Planet IndigenUs, professional Aboriginal photographers visited seven communities to mentor youth in Grades 6 to 8, teaching them about photography and how to use it to tell a story. Those images are part of a gallery “In My Own Eyes” .The gallery of photos was launched on National Aboriginal Day, a day that recognizes the important contributions that Aboriginal people, their cultures and traditions have made, and continue to make, to Ontario and Canada. Photography is one of the most accessible forms of creative expression. With today’s smartphones, taking a photograph does not require specialized equipment, physical strength, or formal training—only curiosity and attention. 

Yet photography is not only a technical act. It is also a way to notice, reflect on, and make sense of the world around us.

Over ten weekly sessions held in partnership with the Science of Care Institute at Sinai Health and the Gooderham & Worts Neighbourhood Association Living Long in the Distillery Sub-Committee, nine participants explored photographic themes such as colour, light and shadow, reflection, movement, and finally, MAGIC IN YOUR PERSONAL WORLD AND COMMUNITY, reflecting elements that support community belonging. These themes provided gentle prompts to notice the built environment, everyday interactions, and moments that shape a sense of connection—or disconnection—within the neighbourhood. 
 Throughout the program, participants were actively and imaginatively engaged with their community. Photography became a way to move through the neighbourhood with intention, noticing textures, patterns, people, and spaces that often go unseen. As the weeks progressed, the act of taking photographs became less about technical effort and more about participation —being present in the world and responding to it with curiosity and care.