Edward S. Curtis - [Tsawatenok girl, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

These portraits are valuable records that document Native American dress and customs at the end of the nineteenth century during an active period of Indian removal and hostilities against Native Americans.Library of Congress holds one of the most important collections of Native American photographic portraits.

The Kwakwakaʼwakw, also known as the Kwakiutl, are an indigenous people living in the Pacific Northwest region of North America, primarily in British Columbia, Canada. The name Kwakwakaʼwakw means "those who speak Kwakʼwala", which is their traditional language. The Kwakwakaʼwakw have a rich cultural heritage that includes intricate artwork, music, dance and storytelling. Their traditional way of life was based on fishing, hunting and gathering, and they had a complex social structure with a system of hereditary chiefs. Today, many Kwakwakaʼwakw continue to practice their traditional culture while adapting to modern ways of life. They face ongoing challenges related to land rights, environmental degradation and cultural preservation.