Sarah Houle

The Girls

This project is a series of photos that documents the lives of Janae and Tiarayne. The subjects are my nieces. The photos were taken in Alberta -the majority in Paddle Prairie- our home Metis Settlement in northern Alberta. I have been compiling these images for the past fifteen years and recently decided to continue the project with current photos of Janae and Tiarayne. This continuation is timely as Janae recently became a mother and Tiarayne is no longer a little girl. These photos show glimpses of the magic of childhood: the struggle of growing up and their pride in their mixed heritage of a Metis Mother and a First Nations Father (from the Okanagan Nation).

Like many Metis Aunties, my role in my nieces lives has been very involved. I moved home to our settlement, Paddle Prairie, when I was 18 and my sister was pregnant at 20 with Janae; Tiarayne arrived 3 years later. I was present at both of their births- they are my girls too. This project started when my boyfriend gave me a Yashica Matt 120 format camera from 1956 and that camera became a mirror to reflect 'The Girls.' This story has emerged over the years as a coming of age narrative of two sisters. Battling the worst demons of modern adolescence, the girls have faced darkness and overcome it. The depths of feeling, the beauty and courage they have in response to life's challenges is humbling. This series of photos is an opportunity to show these girls just how important they are and that their stories and experiences matter.