In her Series Skwxwú7mesh Nation Basketball, Alana Paterson photographed the J.A.N.T team (Junior all Native Tournament), that serves to empower its members and reinforce that they are strong, resilient young women and talented athletes. A female team which practices on the Capilano Reserve, in North Vancouver, B.C. A project that begins when the sport co-ordinator from the Squamish Nation Justine Sobell, proposed the photographer to shoot the team. « I was excited about the opportunity as I have been doing various projects on the importance of female equality in sports and never shy from a chance to talk about how underrepresented females in sports are », she says. In all the series Alana has shot on female engagement with sports, she worked on creating visibility first and foremost, but also about starting a conversation. Woman are unrepresented, and more so Indigenous woman. « This is all despite the fact that we know, beyond a doubt, that keeping girls engaged in sports benefits their mental and physical health and their self-esteem. They are more likely to graduate college and be employed in male-dominated fields », she concludes. More information about that subject on her website.
