Ti ra wa hut Re sa ru (Sky Chief) 1865 - 1869

This photograph of Ti ra wa hut Re sa ru, or Sky Chief, was taken in the United States by Edric L. Eaton, though the date is unknown. Sky Chief stands before us in a studio setting, holding a tomahawk, and wearing a mixture of traditional clothing and a Western-style coat. The image creates meaning through these visual codes and the historical associations they carry. Eaton was working during a period of intense conflict between the US government and Native American tribes, a time when photography was often used as a tool of documentation and control. Think about the context: What does it mean for Sky Chief to be photographed in this way, posed in a studio rather than in his natural environment? Is this an attempt to preserve a culture that was being systematically destroyed, or is it another form of exploitation? As historians, we can use archives, newspapers, and other primary sources to reconstruct the complex social and political context in which this photograph was made, and in doing so, gain a deeper understanding of its meaning and significance.