Vital Impacts reveal the artists selected for this year Vital Impacts Environmental Photography Grants, each one dedicated to revolutionary environmentalists Jane Goodall, Sylvia Earle, Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Ian Lemaiyan, Chico Mendes, Madonna Thunder Hawk and E.O. Wilson. The recipients were chosen for their focus on local stories narrating innovative solutions and in spiring positive change for our planet affected by climate change.
The seven outstanding artists are:
- Pat Kane (Canada, Timiskaming First Nation)
Melaw Nakehk’o is a moosehide tanner, an artist, a filmmaker and mother. “Through the process of reclaiming my cultural knowledge, I saw how the many teachings woven into our land practices could positively impact our first nation communities. Our Dene protocols and laws govern our reciprocal relationship with the land and animals. Moosehide tanning is a foundational Indigenous art form, it was our homes, our transportation, our clothes and in hard times our sustenance. It is the canvas of our visual cultural identity. The smoke smell triggers memories of grandmothers, the sound of scraping reminds us of our aunties working together, the beadwork and style of our moccasins represent our nations. Hide tanning is a revolutionary act of resistance. We occupy our traditional land, we are adhering to our traditional teachings and honoring our relationship with the animals that sustain us. Moosehide Tanning is Land Back”.Pat Kane
Marium, the orphaned baby Dugong (Dugong dugon) that was rescued from stranding embraces a veterinarian from the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, while being rehabilitated in the natural environment under cares from marine mammal experts, before dying from plastic ingestion four months later. The photo was taken at Dugong Bay, a small bay with healthy seagrass bed at Koh Libong Island, Trang Province, Thailand, May 24, 2019.While being rehabilitated, Marium showed promising signs of recovery, forming close bond with its caretakers and later gained widespread affection from the general publics, and her subsequent death helped driving major public movement and policies against single-use plastic products in Thailand and also strengthening of dugong conservation and management strategy in Thai waters.Sirachai Arunrugstichai