The seriousness of survival can be seen in the face of this boy. His life is full of challenges. He needs to learn the Yi dialect and supplement it with Mandarin. He will become an adult at a very young age, when he has to take care of his siblings. He will either continue the family farming tradition or leave to make a living in the larger cities. Whatever he faces, he will make the best of it. Now he is just a boy playing by himself with his favorite toy – a ball.
Visiting a Yi village can very rapidly take unexpected turns. When I arrived, these kids were curious about me. I took my time photographing them, as their awareness of my presence eventually wore off and they returned to their daily chores. Meanwhile, my guide was negotiating access to the lower part of the village, but the man in charge would not budge. Our welcome was revoked. This was not uncommon, especially in the villages wanting to maintain their autonomy.
Traveling through Yi territory puts in perspective what is really needed to live, and in most cases what it takes to survive. They have very few clothes, sometimes barely more than one set. They travel on foot for miles to reach the local convenience store or the monthly market. Their daily routine rarely deviates, even when they are sick, as weather is a constant threat to their livelihood. They have very little, but they have heart.
