"Where your memories come first, to make them last." A commercial jingle posted by Robert Waxman Camera and Video. This was a company I worked for, here in Denver, from 1985 through the time the jingle was popular and after the company's demise as well. The owner, Ross Leher, noted prior to this jingle being aired, that they sold car stereos, computers, cameras, etc., but one day it dawned on him, what they were most successful at, were those hard goods that produced memories.
This thought came back to me as I have been starting to investigate two Native American photographers, Edward S. Curtis, and Frank Matsura. Curtis, started photographing Native Americans, in 1895. His depiction of them was to preserve what they were and not let it be lost. His representation was what was in everyone's mind (see http://www.curtis-collection.com/curtis.htmltion.com/curtis.html)
His devotion to the project was admirable by both whites and Native Americans as he frequently lived with the tribes. Curtis learned photography in a time of pictorialists and used the vaseline and sepia styles of the day. While the representation of Native Americans by Curtis may have been how they were, was it truly who they were at the time the photos were taken? http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/award98/ienhtml/essay3.html
In contrast, a Japanese photographer, Frank Matsura, comes to the United States, also makes friends with Native Americans, and shoots them how they were in daily life. Many times the shots have European dress. How do Native Americans see themselves? Some long for the glory provided by Curtis, some are angry at Curtis and appreciate the realism and straight photography provided by Matsura. http://gradschool.unc.edu/natam/panels/keynote.html