Contemporary Native Americans: who they are and how they live

• Modern Native Americans: who they are and how they live

Talking about the lives of the indigenous peoples of the Americas, the media often either illuminate the problem of violence, drug abuse and poverty in the Indian media, or depict them something of a hippie, who see themselves as part of nature and are able to speak with the trees and the wind. Photographer Carlotta Cardan (Carlotta Cardana) has decided to move away from these stereotypes and tell positive stories from the life of modern Indians. Her project, in which she traveled around the country and spoke with representatives of communities and role models, called "The Red Road Project".

22-year-old Sage Honga posing for a photograph in the Grand Canyon, which has a sacred meaning to its people, Hualapai Indians. In 2012, Sage Honga she won a beauty contest among the Native American Miss Native American USA. She tries to convince young Indians to travel outside of their reservations and enjoy all the opportunities that the world offers.

When Everett Tinn (Evereta Thinn) went to college, she realized that she needed to be more active and to move away from the stereotypical image of a shy Indian. Now the 30-year-old Everett is the director of the school in the Indian Reservation Navajo Nation.

Badlands in South Dakota - a sacred place for the Indians Oglala Lakota.

27-year-old Julian Ramirez - a single father who works at a local casino on an Indian reservation Standing Rock. Long hair is the subject of Indian pride, and, according to Julian, his son Elijah will not be able to shear their performance for 13 years.

The staff veteran of the Gulf War, Operation Party "Desert Storm" Chi Hanson (Hanson Chee). The number of feathers corresponds to the number of years spent in the armed forces, and beads - is a tribute to the memory of his father and grandfathers, who were also veterans of wars. Lapa bald eagle - a gift to his father in law, birds caught in the hunt.

User powwow Fast Eddie (left) and the star of social networks Two Braids.

The wooden pole on the place of burial in an Indian reservation Wind River Range.

The Indian Thípiziwiŋ Young, who devoted his life to studying and teaching the disappearing Lakota language. Her name means "Woman Yellow the Lodge." With the participation of Tipi language learning program was developed for children from 3 to 5 years.

The wooden construction of the tipi and cross the road in Indian Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.

Elijah, Indian Lakota of the Pine Ridge Reservation, dreams of becoming a professional skateboarder.

Snow-covered road in the mountains Wind River Range.

29-year-old Gina Szczur, a single mother and a police officer in the Indian Reservation Standing Rock. When her brother died under mysterious circumstances, and her family was left alone with questions that no one could give an answer, Gina, previously served in Iraq, has decided to become a police officer, to help other people to seek justice.

The grave of an Indian named Wammy White Cloud (Wammi White Cloud), one of the many teenagers who died in a traffic accident. Death as a result of road accidents and suicide - the two most common causes of death of American Indian adolescents. The level of suicides among Indians is significantly higher than the US average.

Lakota Wahpe in his bedroom in the Indian Pine Ridge Reservation.

The main street in the city of Fort Yates in North Dakota is named after Sitting Bull - leader revered Lakota Indians.