Ep 105 - Photography, Identity & The Wild West Coast | Kimberley Kufaas | The PHYS Podcast
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Kimberley Kufaas, a photographer from northern Vancouver Island, reveals how her mixed Indigenous (Kwakwaka'wak) and Scandinavian heritage shaped a life of quiet resilience and creative reinvention. Adopted as a child and raised in a culture where being Indigenous meant hiding, she spent decades navigating identity in the margins—caught between white peers who didn’t see her as Indigenous and Indigenous peers who questioned her belonging. Her breakthrough came not through a single moment, but through a DNA test that reunited her with her birth family and sparked a deep reclamation of her roots. Now, her photography—documenting ceremonies, landscapes, and intimate human moments—serves as both personal healing and cultural reclamation. She’s built a thriving creative career from a small island town by embracing her 'Indian time,' saying yes to opportunities, and refusing to conform to industry norms. Her most powerful work, the 'Photography Heals Your Soul' project, aims to give cameras to Indigenous youth across North America, proving that creativity isn’t just art—it’s survival, identity, and legacy.
Adopted Indigenous people often face dual alienation—rejected by white peers and questioned by Indigenous communities—making identity a lifelong journey of reclamation.
A DNA test revealed Kimberley’s birth family and roots in Merit, transforming her sense of belonging and igniting her cultural reconnection.
Photography became her emotional anchor during grief, helping her process the loss of her ex-wife and mother while rebuilding her identity.
She refuses to conform to industry rules, shooting mostly in aperture priority and editing intuitively—proving that authenticity beats technical perfection.
Her 'Photography Heals Your Soul' project will give 30 cameras to Indigenous youth for 30 days, with mentorship and gifts for those who show passion and potential.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Introduction: A Journey of Identity and Photography
Host Tyson Martin introduces Kimberley Kufaas, a photographer from northern Vancouver Island with Kwakwaka'wak, Métis, and Scandinavian roots. She shares her background as an adopted child who only recently discovered her true heritage through a DNA test.
The Weight of Being 'White-Passing' Indigenous
“I was quiet, let's just say I was like very introverted, very quiet so it was just easier to just not say much and just exist and I didn't say anything about being Indigenous and I was really unfortunate. I would you know go to culture classes and just kind of pretend like I've never known any of the stuff. It almost hurts. Like it does hurt.”
Finding Her Voice Through Photography
Kimberley recounts how her love for photography began at age 13 with her first camera, funded by working at a cafe. She started selling photos on cards and eventually upgraded to an SLR, marking the beginning of her creative journey.
The Healing Power of Cultural Documentation
“It really hit something for me and it almost took that layer of that, it's sad to say but that embarrassment of being Indigenous I felt and it gave me a place where I felt like I belonged again in the big house.”
From Small Town to Global Recognition
Despite coming from a small island town, Kimberley built a national and international career by embracing her unique aesthetic—rugged landscapes, authentic emotion, and cultural depth—while rejecting the 'starving artist' myth.
“The next part is basically we aren't going to critique, we're going to look, we're going to talk about photos with them and the one or two that are very, very excited and they can see a future creating art this way will be gifted a camera by someone in the group and a year of mentorship.”
“It really hit something for me and it almost took that layer of that, it's sad to say but that embarrassment of being Indigenous I felt and it gave me a place where I felt like I belonged again in the big house.”
“I was quiet, let's just say I was like very introverted, very quiet so it was just easier to just not say much and just exist and I didn't say anything about being Indigenous and I was really unfortunate. I would you know go to culture classes and just kind of pretend like I've never known any of the stuff. It almost hurts. Like it does hurt.”
Host
Guest
Kimberley Kufaas
person
Vancouver Island
place
Kwakwaka'wak
other
West Coast Life
brand
DNA kit
product
Folklore Wedding Company
organization
Edward Curtis
person
Martin Loft
person
Volvo
brand
Jeff
person
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