MARACEA CHASE

Raised in Gallup, New Mexico, Maracea Chase is an aspiring filmmaker and photographer. Most of her work, including various student films, writing projects, and photography, all center around indigenous youth and identity. Currently a student at the University of Southern California studying film (cinema and media studies), she hopes to bring the Native American perspective to main stream media, as well as create narratives that celebrate indigenous’ peoples around the globe.

Within all Native American cultures, there is a universal belief that the connection between the people and the land is sacred. This connection still stands true, especially within native youth as environmental awareness increases through platforms such as social media. The photo submitted expresses the connection between native youth and reservation land as it shows that we, as individuals, are rooted into where we come from. The prompt fits perfectly into this photo as well as it shows a different meaning- in the midst of reservation life, despite all the good and bad aspects of it, there is hope.