“It requires character to do this kind of job.”
— Mathurin “Math” Maoundonodji, end-of-life home caregiver
In 2020-2021, we paired five ethnographers with five end-of-life, home caregivers to observe, document, and record their stories and knowledge. Conversations between caregivers and ethnographers took place during the pandemic, over Zoom and later in person. The pairs created meaningful relationships, and their conversations not only help us “see” and celebrate the work of caregivers, but also contribute to the field of folklife ethnography, making space for shared grief and prioritizing a commitment to trust and authenticity.
Click on caregiver photos to hear interview excerpts. Full ethnographies will be published in October 2022.
The Caregivers
Ethnographers
Charlie Buck, Kate DeShiell, Kathleen Dreier, Amalia Mora & Suzanne Morrison
Photographs: Kathleen Dreier
Project coordinators: Kimi Eisele & Nelda Ruiz
Audio production & editing: Alex Pere
With funding from:
