Marla Mesarina

Marla is a senior at TrekNorth Jr. and Sr. High School in Bemidji, Minnesota. She has served as her school’s National Arts Honors Society President and currently serves as the Vice President. Marla is culturally motivated and loves to implement her culture into any art craftsmanships. Showcasing who she is through photography is one of her favorite things to do.

Culture brings a sense of belonging, a home for your spirit. I captured this image of my little brother Kevin in the fall. I decided to take a photo of him because I wanted to show the self confidence Native youth gain from a relationship with culture. Kevin’s facial expression in this photo shows resilience and love, which are of the seven grandfather teachings of his culture. Aligning Kevin with the tree helps to balance the composition and create the feeling of his solid place in the world, connecting him to nature where he and his ancestors both descend from.