LightBox Photographic Gallery

They Named Our City For Him • Photographs from Chief Sealth’s gravesite

On the Port Madison Indian Reservation, less than 15 miles across the water from Seattle, is the gravesite of the Native American chief for whom the city was named. Still in use today, the old cemetery rests behind the white clapboard church of St. Peter Catholic Mission. Unlike many cemeteries, this one isn’t perfectly manicured. It’s a bit messy like life itself. Weeds grow. The ground is uneven. Flags mark most headstones. Family members and nearby residents leave gifts to honor both the recently passed and distant ancestors. During the past few years, as I crossed Puget Sound to visit my father who is now well into his 90s, I’ve stopped at the graveyard at different times of day and in different seasons to photograph headstones and document gifts left behind. In these platinum-toned Kallitype prints, I have tried to respect the fact that Native Americans consider their ancestors’ graves sacred while also pointing out how, in my culture, few think twice about wandering away from the tombs of our forefathers. I have tried to reflect on the fleeting nature of our lives, especially as my father approaches his own centenary. And, most of all, I’ve tried to honestly reflect on history. • Chris Villiers
 December 2019