The majority of traditional inhabitants in the vast region of Northwestern China are Uighur (pron. ‘wee ger’), a Turkic muslim ethnic group whose language and culture contrasts sharply with that of the Han Chinese. In recent years, the Chinese government has launched a rapid campaign to develop it’s western regions. This campaign has also led to a dramatic influx of Han into Xinjiang Province. As demographics change and industry begins to boom, Uighurs and other ethnic minority groups are faced with enormous pressure to assimilate. My desire has been to get to know the traditional inhabitants of Xinjiang and preserve through photographs their traditional way of life in the face of an uncertain future.
Recent violence in Urumqi and news of the demolition of ancient Uighur homes in Kashgar have brought Xinjiang international attention. Please visit the following sites for more information on the struggles of minority ethnic groups in Xinjiang and how you can help:
Uighur Human Rights Project
Save Kashgar
