Jeff Thomas

Jeff Thomas (born 1956) is an Iroquois photographer, curator, and cultural theorist who works and lives in Ottawa, Ontario.

Thomas is known for his photographic work that addresses and interrogates the place of First Nations people in contemporary Canadian society.

Often, his works explore the disjuncture between depictions he sees of Indigenous people as relics of the past (for instance, in museums), and contemporary Indigenous life as he views it.

Thomas was born in 1956 in Buffalo, New York.

Growing up, he spent time in Buffalo as well as the Six Nations of the Grand River reserve.

Thomas' photographic practice is primarily concerned with showing the perspective of an "urban Iroquoian person," and what he calls “symbols of Indian-ness.” His work has been shown in galleries and museums across Canada, as well as in the United States and parts of Europe.

In 1997, Thomas was featured in Ali Kazimi's documentary film, "Shooting Indians: A Journey with Jeffrey Thomas," which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.

His work includes the "Indians on Tour" series began in 2000, in which stereotypical "Indian" figurines are posed against natural or urban landscapes, otherwise against historical monuments and contemporary culture, as Thomas' photographs document First Nations people.

In his "Vanishing Race" series, he depicts encounters with stereotypical depictions of Indigeneity.

He is the father of Ehren "Bear Witness" Thomas of the musical group The Halluci Nation (formerly known as A Tribe Called Red.)

In 2008, Thomas was awarded the Karsh Award in Photography.

He was a recipient of the Governor General's Award in Visual and Media Arts in 2019.