Visions along the Trail: Community Action and Visitor Employed Photography in Two Native American Communities.

Rural community development is undergoing changing visions, activities, and methodologies. Factors impacting this change include decentralization, budget reduction in the public sector, and globalization and downsizing in the private sector. Community "building" (community-generated change and emphasis on capacities rather than deficiencies) must replace the concept of community "development." In this paper, visitor-employed photography (VEP) is explored as an appropriate new tool in community building. Nineteen research participants from the Winnebago and Omaha tribes were given cameras and asked to take photographs of self-selected positive and negative aspects of their environment and share and explain their perceptions. Analysis of VEP data showed community strengths, directions for change, and resident priorities and vision. Omaha participants were concerned about their lack of inclusion on the local school board and consequent lack of control over curriculum and other matters. Positive VEP images showed individual teachers who encouraged study of Indian culture despite the antagonistic school board, while negative images showed fences that prevented viewing of school sports events by Indians who could not afford admission. Winnebago participants focused on their community's need for adequate affordable housing. VEP interviews singled out community leaders and provided the means for directing efforts toward community building and action. (SAS)