Today’s guest is a photographer whose work isn’t just beautiful — it’s vital, especially in a world where conservation isn’t just about nature, but also about us — our cultures, communities, and connection to place.

Pat Kane is an Indigenous Algonquin Anishinaabe photojournalist based in Yellowknife, in Canada’s Northwest Territories, and a proud member of the Timiskaming First Nation. His powerful work documents the lives and stories of Indigenous people across the North — from traditional knowledge keepers to modern youth shaping their own narratives.

In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, we explore Pat’s journey into photojournalism, the importance of community collaboration, and how he builds long-term trust in the places he photographs. He talks about his project made for the Joop Swart Masterclass -the World Press Photo’s best-known educational program for emerging photographers-, navigating identity, responsibility, and representation — all while working in some of the most extreme environments on Earth.

Coming next week in the second part, will dive into his National Geographic assignment, working in the deep cold with photography gear, his latest caribou conservation project supported by the Vital Impacts' Environmental Grant in honor of Jane Goodall, and about co-founding the amazing Far North Photo Festival in Yellowknife.

This is a conversation about identity, environment, purpose — and photography in -40 degrees Celsius — told through the lens of a powerful, grounded voice in contemporary documentary work, with of course some good laughs at times too.

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📸 See more of Pat’s work:

https://www.patkanephoto.com/

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