Richard Tsong-Taatarii
Documentary Photographer @ Minneapolis Star Tribune/Zuma Press / Based in Minneapolis
Through his documentary photography work, Richard Tsong-Taatarii brings attention to the joys and tribulations of Minnesotans as a staff photographer for the Minneapolis Star Tribune newspaper. He also enjoys covering communities within our larger society that escape the attention of the mainstream media.
His awards include being a finalist in newspaper portfolio in 74th POYi, earning an Award of Excellence. Other honors from the Minnesota Newspaper Photographer Association, including First Place in picture story and general news..
In his photo essay "The forgotten Columbine,†he chronicled the aftermath of the Red Lake High School massacre, which took the lives of ten people including the shooter. He has been working on a long-term documentary project titled "The Broken Hoop†about the legacy of the Wounded Knee Massacre on the Pine Ridge Reservation. This project was the winner of the 2013 Puffin Grant for undercovered minority communities and the 2014 NPPA Short Grant.
He is currently working on "Seventh Generation" a long term project about Native Americans reclaiming their cultural and political sovereignty through the prism of protecting the environment and their cultural heritage.