This photograph is from the series Omo: Expressions of a People, taken during an excursion through Ethiopia’s Omo Valley. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site and recognized by scientists as the cradle of humankind, this dust-blown area is home to a diverse mix of indigenous cultures, including Suri, Hamar and Nyangatom. The people of the region share a semi-nomadic way of life that has, thanks to their independent spirit and geographic isolation, changed relatively little over the centuries. Coming-of-age initiations, marriage rites, cattle herding—society in the Omo is still organized around these essential practices. This image shows a young Suri boy carrying a goat on his shoulders, as people in this region have depended on livestock for their survival for centuries. Children, especially boys, are often given important responsibilities regarding goat and cattle herding, and these dominate much of their childhood and daily tasks.