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It was a gift to photograph Navajo Code Talker Thomas Begay to be sure. Thomas Begay is a vital 95 years young. Growing up only speaking Navajo, he learned English at the age of 13 and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at 16. It was an honor to listen to him share the incredible events of his life and sing the U.S. Marine Corps hymn in Navajo during our photo session. I stand in awe. Thomas was selected as one of the 33 Navajo Code Talkers to be assigned to the renowned 5th Marine Division Signal Company. The Navajo Code Talkers developed and used a secret coded Navajo language for radio communication in the Marine Corps battle campaign. During the Battle of Iwo Jima, Private First Class Begay transmitted hundreds of secret messages over the radio network from H-Hour—19 February 1945 to 27 March 1945 and even witnessed the historic U.S. flag raising atop Mount Suribachi, during the battle. "Were it not for the Navajos," said Signal Officer Major Howard M. Conner, "the Marines would never have taken Iwo Jima and win the war.
Photographer Craig Varjabedian collaborates with Native Americans to celebrate their traditions and their past with the Native Light Project. Through authentic photographic portraits that include cultural, familial and/or ceremonial regalia significant to a subjects identity, and through personal interactions resulting from these portrait sessions, Native Light presents photographs and stories of Native Americans who strongly connect with their vibrant past and thrive in a modern world. Find Out More Here
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