Shondiin Silversmith Arizona Republic

How a chance meeting led a photographer to a life's work documenting Navajo Code Talkers

Kenji Kawano came to the Navajo Nation in 1974 with a plan to take some pictures of everyday life for Navajo people and then head back home to Japan.

He didn't know anything about Native Americans or the Navajo people and he couldn't speak English or Navajo, so it was hard for him to start taking photos.

But he didn't feel like he was far from home. Kawano said he was surprised at how similar Navajo and Japanese people look, especially the kids. That made him feel more at ease within the community.

Nearly 50 years later, he's still taking photos on Navajo land.

"I'm still here," said Kawano, now 72.

Read the full article here.