How a dream becomes reality

    In the summer of 2005 I was inspired with an idea that was pursuant of my love for photography, it came to me while talking with a friend. We were discussing how so many rural communities had dwindled and some even disappeared without so much as a photograph to  record their existence. Who records the passing of time before it goes? Sure there are local papers, personal diaries and family photographs some passed down through the generations but  many are lost forever. Public libraries have some of these records but often hidden away in dusty old boxes.

    It came to me that a visual record of the people of Temagami was missing. Photographs of the older generation, people who lived and remembered Temagami in it’s hey day, the very roots of the village, the lake, and the people who remember their Grandfathers and Grandmothers, how they lived off the land, how the land was so different “back then”

    I the winter of 2006 I began putting this project together with some research and planning. After several months of work I had it down, ambitious as it is, I was excited. The Temagami Elders Project was on paper and ready to go, in brief here is the scope of the project

The project consists of photographing as many community elders as possible from

 ·        First Nations

·        Lake community (permanent and non permanent residents)

·        Municipality (urban and rural)

The goal is to produce a body of work that records the history and humanity of our communities as a living history.

·        The initial project will try to archive 30 to 200 portraits

·        It will take place over the next 2 years starting in winter 2009.

·        Portraits will be a permanent record made with digital equipment.

·        Archival DVD’s of the final project will be produced for permanent record and kept where archiving facilities exist, the Library or Municipal office.

·        All portraits will be made print ready for a printed 11 x 14, matted, framed Portrait usuing acid free materials.

·        A selection will be framed for display ( depending upon funding) perhaps 20.

·        The framed portraits will be displayed gallery Style in halls, municipal and administration buildings but may also be available to businesses that apply to display them.

·        The long-term goal is to keep this as a living project/archive

   How to begin, what is the next step, where to start? I soon realized that the cost of printing and framing was going to run into hundreds of dollars. I needed assistance! I approached Temagami Community Foundation and applied for some working funds. I wrote letters to all the community leaders, clubs, groups and associations explaining my goal. The idea was met with great enthusiasm by all and I did receive a start up grant  from the Temagami Community Foundation. Now how to approach the people, how to get the shots, who to Photograph first?

   Too late my busy season hit full tilt and I needed to concentrate on the business for the time being, the project would have to wait until winter

   In the winter of 2007 we decided to sell our house in the village. Sue( my wife) would now commute full timefrom the island  to Temagami public school  to teach… another year lost for the project.

  In the summer of 2008 I meet Sherry Guppy and we chatted briefly about what work we were doing and that maybe we should talk more. Sherry is working on a great project, a Round table session with community elders, talking, remembering and telling stories from the past. Sherry and Shanna were making digital audio recording of these sessions. WOW the lights came on. We decided we could partner our efforts, what a great opportunity for me to photograph these folks interacting and even sitting for portraits!

   To date there are about 20 portraits, frame ready as well as hundreds of candid photographs of the sessions, we are planning another story session this month.  So the project lives and breaths!  

   At this time I would ask of everyone that if you know anyone who should be photographed to please call or e-mail me...  Although the funding is going to run low (I have enough to frame about 15 to 20 portraits) I will continue to shoot and archive. If anybody would like to assist or help out in anyway (hint) please contact me.

Gerry Gooderham 237-8904 or e-mail- grg@ontera.net