Christine Armbruster: The Songs of My Fathers

Christine Armbruster was invited to document the annual Dakota 38 + 2 Wokiksuye Memorial Ride, a 330 mile horse ride retracing the steps of the Dakota forcibly relocated from their Minnesota homeland to Crow Creek, South Dakota.  Her exhibition “The Songs of My Fathers” included the beautiful and moving photographs she made that document the ride, along with a book she created featuring these photos.  All proceeds from the show were donated to the Dakota 38 + 2 Wokiksuye Memorial Riders.  The exhibition coincided with that year’s Memorial Ride.

Christine Armbruster states that “There is no such thing as the voiceless: There are those deliberately unheard and others preferably silenced. Here are voices, past and present, speaking up together about the grave injustice of forced relocation and the 1862 public execution of 38 Dakota men in Mankato, Minnesota.  Voices that speak languages stifled by oppression and share tribal wisdom that endures despite relentless repression. A heavy silence punctuates these voices. Silence for missing and murdered women and for those lost to addiction. Silence to pay respect to Elders with more knowledge than any book.

Despite its grim origins, this ride also celebrates unity and survival. It is a moment to come together, to discuss tribal issues, to teach the little ones traditional songs, and to compare notes on how Dakota has been spoken from one generation to the next.

Feelings run strong on the ride. Heartache is rampant. A young man speaks of craving the songs lost in his father’s mouth when he died. Empathy is tangible, and so is the sense of mourning. Addiction, trauma, and violence are all too familiar stories.

The ride is defined by kindness. Riders stop their horses to fix the flat tire of a stranded motorist. New participants are mentored and communities rally in support. It is a time of peace, a time of respect. We take our gloves off to shake hands. No matter how cold.

These stories have immense power. Stories of the untold history of this land. Stories of traditions and victories, of atrocities and broken treaties. A legacy of unending betrayal. A legacy that these riders work to rewrite; speaking up, demanding to be heard.”

Relentlessly curious, Christine Armbruster has turned her open mind into the driving force of her documentary work. Armbruster leans into her fascination with the unknown and dives deeply into ideas that are often an afterthought. Whether it be the disappearing towns of Utah, post-Soviet culture, or unrecognized countries, these are the types of projects that fascinate her most.

With a sympathy towards humanity and desire to honor the places she photographs, she seeks to bring attention to the unnoticed. Her work has been seen in galleries across America and publications worldwide. She is currently based in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.