Artwork copyright Ben Marra. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Yakama, 1993

Ben Marra
American (born 1940)

Location: Valley View Elementary, Ellensburg

About the Artwork

Yakama is part of a series of photographs by artist Ben Marra that document Native American powwow ceremonies. All photographs were taken on location, between dances, usually in about five minutes. He photographs the powwow competitors as he finds them, noting that "I am not creating anything but the light."

Marra notes, "The image in the photograph entitled Yakama is that of a teenager from the Lacey area of Washington. Two years ago, in July [1993], as the eagle flew overhead and welcomed the dancers to Seattle's Daybreak Star Center, Waylon felt the presence of his ancient family. He is a proud traditional dancer and made his entire outfit himself. The Traditional Northern Style dance represents a warrior scouting before a battle. Their regalia includes a single bustle, usually of eagle feathers, a porcupine roach (head piece) with a single eagle feather, ribbon shirt, bone hair pipe choker and breastplate, breech cloth, leggings, short angora anklets with sheep bells above them, beaded cuffs, belt, arm bands, and moccasins. The dancer carries a dance staff and a fan usually made from the wing of an eagle. Everyone should stand, and men should remove their head coverings unless it has an eagle feather, during this dance out of respect to the dancers and the eagle feathers they wear. As the boy stepped before the camera between dances, a certain presence was captured of that moment in this dancer's life; when the drums sound like thunder, and the dance is all that matters."

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Ellensburg School District.

About the Artist

Seattle-based photographer Ben Marra creates images and portraits that document Native American powwows, ceremonies, and gatherings.
Marra earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Idaho in 1962. After his tour of duty in the U.S. Air Force, Ben studied photography at Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara, California, receiving a degree in 1973. He established Ben Marra Photography in 1974 in Seattle, Washington.