*News Release* *FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE* May 7, 2024 *MEDIA CONTACT* Roxann Murray, photographer, atouchofwanderlust@gmail.com, (253)355-1912 Photography Exhibition at Washington State History Museum Highlights Indigenous Matriarchs in the Pacific Northwest TACOMA, Wash. -- Tacoma photographer Roxann Murray has an exhibition of eight photographs at the Washington State History Museum titled “Matriarch: Portraits of Indigenous Women in the Pacific Northwest Fighting for our Collective Future.” The exhibition will be on display until May 20, 2024 in the community gallery. The exhibition is free to access during regular museum hours of Tuesday through Sunday, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM. A closing reception commemorating Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) Awareness Month will take place on May 16 from 6-8pm. Roxann will give an artist talk and answer patron questions. Masks are highly encouraged to protect Elders and immunocompromised patrons including the artist. “I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to photograph these women. They are my friends and mentors, and they have taught me about preserving traditions, protecting land and water, caring for community, and celebrating my own Native heritage,” Murray said. The exhibit includes portraits of eight Indigenous women who are leaders in their communities. The women include Carolyn Christmas (Mi’kmaq), Mariana Harvey (Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation), Sweetwater Nannauck (Tlingit, Tsimshian, Haida), Paige Pettibon (Bitterroot Salish), Nancy Shippentower (Puyallup, Tulalip), Janene Hampton (Snpink’tn, Syilx) Lisa Fruichantie (Seminole Nation of Oklahoma), and Elizabeth Satiacum (Quileute). The women were invited to participate in the project based on their leadership in environmental and social justice movements in their communities. “Know where you come from. Love who you are; love who your people are. If you step off track, it’s not the end of the world; you can always step back on it.”, Carolyn Christmas said during her photoshoot with Murray. Murray is a Tacoma-based artist with Nakota and Dakota descendancy and she specializes in community, nature, and travel photography. Her work can be seen at https://atouchofwanderlustphotography.com or on Instagram at @atouchofwanderlust. “Matriarch: Portraits of Indigenous Women in the Pacific Northwest Fighting for our Collective Future” was funded by the Tacoma Arts Commission through the Tacoma Artists Initiative Program. ### [image: facebook event.jpg]