Emancipation of Tepakti

Photographer: Vivian Vo

Model & Wardrobe: Paulino Mejia

Creative Director & Makeup Artist:

Keith Torres

 “Emancipation” - the fact or process of being set free from legal, social, or political restrictions; liberation.

Something the native populations around the world are struggling to do. Indigenous people have had to bear the brunt of developed societies. Throughout history, aboriginal people have had to deal with a history of genocide, assimilation, and oppressive legislation. Unfortunately, all of these things still affect native people today. Some fairly recent events include the Standing Rock protests, Invasion Day protests, and the Ecuadorian indigenous protests just to reference a few. This concerning rise in legislation is having negative effects on our native populations, which also affects our environments. Native people single-handedly protect 80% of the world’s biodiversity, while only making up less than 5% of the world’s population. They are the frontlines to protect our environment. I wanted to reflect on these oppressive systems but more importantly, I wanted to focus on the resilience and artistry of native people.

This series follows Paulino’s transformation to their authentic self. Including denouncing the ever-present societal pressures to fit into eurocentric standards, having resilience against oppressors, and resisting gender norms. The name “Tepakti” is their native name. The final piece is inspired by one of Paulino’s paintings to embody the emancipation they have achieved. All the wardrobe including jewelry and accessories were handmade by Paulino themself. You can find all of their beautiful artisan goods right on Depop or directly from their Instagram page.

* They/Them pronouns are commonly used in this writing to refer to a non-binary person. Non-binary refers to people outside the typical gender binary of man/woman. My model Paulino is a two-spirit which is a native identity that is under this umbrella.