Perception: A Photo Series

By KC Adams, katherena vermette and Cathy Mattes

Tired of reading negative and disparaging remarks directed at Indigenous people of Winnipeg in the press and social media, artist KC Adams created a photo series that presented another perspective. Called “Perception Photo Series,” it confronted common stereotypes of First Nation, Inuit and Métis people to illustrate a more contemporary truthful story. First appearing on billboards, in storefronts, in bus shelters, and projected onto Winnipeg’s downtown buildings, Adams’s stunning photographs now appear in the book, Perception: A Photo Series.  Meant to challenge the culture of apathy and willful ignorance about Indigenous issues, Adams hopes to unite readers in the fight against prejudice of all kinds.

Perception is one title in The Debwe Series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HighWater Press
• Release date: Sep 24, 2019
• ISBN: 9781553797876

KC Adams

KC Adams (she/her/hers) is an award-winning Cree/Ojibway/British Winnipeg-based artist who works in a wide variety of mediums. KC graduated from Concordia University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, and her work is in many permanent collections both nationally and internationally, including pieces at the National Gallery of Canada. She is a recent recipient of the Winnipeg Arts Council’s Making a Mark Award and the Aboriginal Circle of Educators’ Trailblazing Award.

Book preview

Reviews for Perception

[twink_2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

No matter what you think - you've done it, I've done it. Made a snap judgement about someone based on an initial look or meeting. And how many times have you been wrong?KC Adams has just released Perception: A Photo Series - 'a project to combat racism and present First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the way they see themselves.' This was initially a project in Winnipeg.Two photos. First you see the one taken while hateful words are hurled at the sitter. And on the following page, the same person, but now thinking of joy and happiness. And the truth.The result is powerful. I sat and pondered every face and then the flip side. And the difference is 'in your face', if you will. Truly eye opening. Perception should be in schools as a starting point for discussions that need to happen.