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Nel 2016, la remota comunità canadese di Attawapiskat, Cree First Nations, è diventata sinonimo di disperazione, in seguito alla forte incidenza di casi di suicidio – una crisi che ha attirato l’attenzione dei media di tutto il mondo. Anche se esistono sfide complesse, molti aspetti della vita degli Attawapiskat sono stati ampiamente trascurati: i legami duraturi della comunità, il legame con la terra, la riscoperta delle pratiche tradizionali e la volontà umana. Se ci si concentra solo sulle terribili condizioni dei più indigenti, ai fini della diffusione di una narrazione guidata dai media, la divisione cresce e resta poco spazio per le soluzioni e la comprensione. Attraverso suoni e immagini questo lavoro vuole rappresentare un contrappunto astratto a quel tipo narrazione.

Il progetto è stato finanziato da una sovvenzione del Pulitzer Centre on Crisis Reporting.

Attawapiskat, Ontario, Canada. The Northern lights, almost overpowering in their physical beauty, fill the night sky over Attawapiskat. Cree legends state that the lights are spirits of the ancestors celebrating life and showing the living that they are all part of creation. Their dancing forms a laneway for the souls as they travel to the next realm. It is said that when Cree are living the right way and conducting ceremonies and dances, the spirits of Cree ancestors celebrate in the heavens. Attawapiskat is an isolated First Nation community located in northern Ontario, Canada, at the mouth of the Attawapiskat River on James Bay. On April 9, 2016, the community of approximately 2000 people declared a state of emergency after being overwhelmed with attempted suicides, over 100 attempts in a ten month period. August 27, 2016. David Maurice Smith/Oculi.
Attawapiskat, Ontario, Canada. Young people gather at dusk outside the Kattawapiskak Elementary School. The suicide crisis that came to light in 2016 was largely impacting youth with the majority of the attempts amongst teenagers. One elder in the community cited a growing disconnect between traditional ways and the younger generation, amplified by the many challenges associated with living in a remote community. "It is important now for young people to understand the colonial policies that have left their communities disconnected" she said. "Only if they can understand what people went through can they articulate why their lives may be in chaos.". . Attawapiskat is an isolated First Nation community located in northern Ontario, Canada, at the mouth of the Attawapiskat River on James Bay. On April 9, 2016, the community of approximately 2000 people declared a state of emergency after being overwhelmed with attempted suicides, over 100 attempts in a ten month period. August 20, 2016. David Maurice Smith/Oculi.
Attawapiskat, Ontario, Canada. Young people play at a statue of the Virgin Mary near the St. Francois-xavier Catholic Church on the shores of the Attawapiskat river. The community has a complicated history with the Catholic church with many of its members subjected to horrible abuses while in the Catholic run residential school system. Attawapiskat is an isolated First Nation community located in northern Ontario, Canada, at the mouth of the Attawapiskat River on James Bay. On April 9, 2016, the community of approximately 2000 people declared a state of emergency after being overwhelmed with attempted suicides, over 100 attempts in a ten month period. October 7, 2016. David Maurice Smith/Oculi.

David Maurice Smith

David Maurice Smith è un fotografo canadese, il cui lavoro si basa sulla precedente carriera nei servizi sociali durante la quale ha assistito comunità e individui in crisi.

Le sue immagini sono state premiate agli International Photography Awards, agli American Photography Awards, agli Amnesty International Media Awards e ai Walkley Awards e nel 2016 David ha ricevuto una borsa di studio dal Pulitzer Centre on Crisis Reporting. Il suo lavoro è stato presentato a Photoville, The Delhi Photo Festival, Visa Pour l’Image-Perpignan International Festival of Photojournalism, Angkor Photo Festival, Contact Photography Festival, PhotoIreland, PhotoJourn Festival e Obscura Festival of Photography.

David è membro del collettivo Oculi dal 2012 e tra i suoi clienti figurano TIME, The New York Times Magazine, Rolling Stone, The Washington Post, Mother Jones, The Wall Street Journal e National Geographic.