Historically, all of the Native American cultures featured here have shared similar characteristics. Human sacrifice is the first commonality that enters most scholars minds. This is almost always followed by the fact that they were all conquered by the Spaniards. Some people who are closely familiar with these cultures might add that they all share a diet rich in starches. Still others will enlighten us even futher by telling us how each culture has produced richly detailed textiles for centuries.



I can tell you that after twenty years of photographing these cultures that the first similarity that enters my mind is the overwhelming poverty that they all share. To my knowledge, almost every single person depicted in this website starts the day by wondering how they are going to feed themselves. Very few of us will ever experience the daily hardships that these people face.



Perseverence is the second characteristic that comes to mind. They all held on to their religious beliefs and cultural traits no matter how great the adversity. Today, we find that all three of the mother cultures have shamans that are still practicing the same rituals that have been practiced for centuries. Most importantly, most of the rituals are still focused on each cultures respective reciprical relations with mother earth. According to their beliefs no one takes from mother earth without giving something back in return.



Sadly, the last characteristic that they all share is discrimination. This discrimination comes because these people hold a firm desire to maintain their own traditions and shun the western melting pot lifestyle where everyone dresses and acts the same. Throughout Latin America indigenous languages are being replaced by Spanish. In almost every indigenous village the men have already given up their native traje for the western style of clothing. Blue jeans, t-shirts, and tennis shoes are the norm now. At this time I can think of only one village in all of the Americas where the men still wear traditional clothes and that would be the village of Solala, Guatemala. This also happens to be one of the last places on Earth where men wear dresses. It is only a matter of time before everyone on Earth dresses the same way.