Finalists unveiled for the WIPO Photography Prize for Indigenous Youth 2024

Out of nearly four hundred submissions from across the globe, 15 photographs have been shortlisted by an independent jury of Indigenous photographers for the 2024 edition of the WIPO Photography Prize for Indigenous Youth.

This year’s edition theme “Indigenous Peoples’ Ways of Healing and Well-Being: Honoring Our Ancestors’ Wisdom and Knowledge” invited Indigenous youth to use photography as a medium to explore and share how their communities' lifestyles, beliefs and cultures are fundamentally related to their health and well-being.

Visit our online gallery to experience the artistic expressions of this year’s theme, shown through the viewpoints of the 15 talented photographers.

The 2024 Panel of Judges

Three accomplished Indigenous photographers composed the independent panel of judges who undertook the challenging task of evaluating all the entries and selecting the 15 finalists. The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) expresses its deepest gratitude and congratulations to the judges for completing this important task.

Eli Farinango is an Indigenous artist and visual storyteller, born in Kichwa territory (Quito, Ecuador) and raised in Turtle Island (Canada). Through her art, she reclaims her ancestral memory and creates a space for knowledge sharing with those she photographs.

Jaida Grey Eagle is an Oglala Lakota freelance documentary photographer currently located in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States of America. She is a member of Women's Photograph, Indigenous Photograph, and the 400 Years Project.

Nayla Azmi is a Batak photographer, storyteller and conservationist based in Sumatra, Indonesia. Nayla has worked in the field for over a decade and is passionate about conservation and the empowerment of women and other marginalized communities.

Insight

Each edition of the WIPO Photography Prize is designed in consultation with an Advisory Board comprised of Indigenous Peoples’ representatives, including Indigenous youth, as well as organizations, governments, and individuals working in photography, intellectual property, media and other areas relevant to the theme of the Photography Prize.

WIPO would like to thank Geoffrey Roth, Expert Member of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Dr. Sungchol Kim, Unit Head on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine Department of Integrated Health Services of the World Health Organization (WHO), Pauliina Nykänen-Rettaroli, Unit Head of the Human Rights Department of Gender, Rights and Equity of WHO, and Alessandra Yupanqui, content-creator from Peru, for their valuable inputs in the development of the 2024 edition of the WIPO Photography Prize.

Looking for more information on WIPO’s work with Indigenous Peoples?

Visit the WIPO Traditional Knowledge website for more information on WIPO’s work at the nexus of intellectual property and biodiversity, cultural heritage, agriculture, trade, life sciences, human rights, health, climate change and sustainable development.

For regular updates on WIPO’s activities in this area and to stay tuned for more updates on the WIPO Photography Prize, sign up for our Traditional Knowledge Updates.

To learn more about WIPO’s activities on Indigenous Peoples, as well as local communities, engagement, check out our dedicated webpage on the topic.