Chris Rainier

Chris Rainier is the Director of The Cultural Sanctuaries Foundation – a global program focused on preserving both Biodiversity and Cultural Heritage. The mission of the Foundation is to protect traditional cultures on their land – they can better protect the biodiversity and wilderness on the frontlines of climate change. Photography plays a crucial role in empowering traditional societies – creating opportunities for indigenous communities to tell the story of climate

Raven Dancer, Klinget, Alaska

In the 1990s Rainier spent more than 10 years documenting the remaining tribes of New Guinea- which lead to an award-winning book, and museum exhibition tour called “ Where Masks Still Dance: New Guinea”. He has led numerous documentation projects of indigenous groups with extensive expeditions in Australia, Africa, Asia, and South America. He has travelled to all seven continents and to the North Pole, documenting endangered Cultures and Wilderness areas.

In the early 1980s, Rainier worked with the noted photographer – Ansel Adams as his last photographic assistant. During his tenure with the photographer- he worked with Mr Adams to amplify the use of art photography as a social tool – helping to preserve threatened wilderness areas and National Parks in the United States. Rainier went on to collaborate with the UN, UNESCO and IUCN on a Global Project using photography to preserve endangered wilderness areas and threatened traditional cultures worldwide.

Eagle Hunter, Western Mongolia

Rainier has completed photographic projects for the United Nations, UNESCO, Amnesty International, Conservation International, the Smithsonian Institution, Time Magazine, the New York Times, LIFE Magazine, and the National Geographic Society. Rainier has photographed global culture, conflict, famine, and war in Somalia, Sarajevo/Bosnia, Sudan, Rwanda, Cambodia, and Iraq for TIME Magazine, National Geographic, and NPR Radio.

He lectures worldwide on Traditional Culture and Climate Adaptation Traditional Knowledge Systems. And on using modern technology to preserve ancient cultural traditions. He has lectured for: TED Global, The Aspen Institute IDEAS Festival, The United Nations and Qatar Foundation, The Royal Geographic Society, The EG Conference, Google, Apple, Nokia, and Adobe. As well as numerous museums worldwide, from The International Center of Photography ICP in New York, George Eastman House Museum in Rochester, the Australian Museum in Sydney The National Geographic, and The Explorers Club in New York City.

Rainier’s photography and books have been widely shown and collected by museums around the world, including the Australian Museum in Sydney, the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris, the International Center of Photography in New York, the George Eastman House International Museum in Rochester, New York, The National Geographic Society, and the United Nations.

Rainier has been featured in two documentaries: Iraq: Under Fire by National Geographic Channel, – and Ancient Tattoos by Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and Smithsonian TV Channel.

BOOKS:

Keepers of the Spirit
Where Masks still Dance: New Guinea
Ancient Marks
Grand Canyon: River at Risk
Cultures on the Edge
Mask