Tattoos were once a significant part of the everyday life of Alaskan Indigenous, Inuit, and Metis peoples. They served various purposes, from marking spiritual practices and rites of passage to indicating tribe membership and social status. However, non-Natives copying these markings have offended Native people like Potts-Joseph.
Konkow Maidu
The Maidu tribe is indigenous to California and speaks languages like Konkow, Concow, and Northwestern Maidu. They greatly respected animals, providing them with food and resources. Apologizing to the animals they had to kill for survival was a way to show respect, and wearing animal skin headdresses symbolized this respect. The Konkow people lived in cone-shaped houses made of bark and branches, and they used clamshell disks as currency when trading.
Ninsean
Tattooing traditions in the Arctic and Northwest Coast have a history of over 3,600 years. Tattoos were worn as symbols of rank, lineage, and association with natural and supernatural events by both men and women in tribal cultures. The marks on a person’s body indicated their status within the tribe. Numerous books highlight the artistry and symbolism of Native American tattoos.
Miwok
Arctic and Northwest Coast communities are rediscovering tattooing as a form of healing from the trauma inflicted upon Indigenous people, particularly women. Facial Tattoos were initially used to indicate a man’s gender and age and had therapeutic purposes. Some tribes believed that spirits would prevent warriors from crossing into the afterlife if they didn’t have facial tattoos. Jody Potts-Joseph, a Han Gwich’in woman, played a role in bringing traditional tattoos into public awareness.
Tubatulabal
Tattoos have healing powers for Indigenous people worldwide, allowing them to reclaim their culture and express pride and cultural affiliation. Holly Mititquq Nordlum is an artist reviving Alaskan and Canadian Indigenous tattoo traditions nearly lost due to colonization. Traditional chin Tattoos represented milestones such as marriage, overcoming trauma, having children, and reaching adulthood. They were also believed to facilitate spiritual healing.
Pomo
The Pomo tribe deeply respected nature, as reflected in their tattoos. They would apologize to the animals they had to sacrifice for survival. Tattoos played a vital role in Native American cultures, representing family lineage, clan crests, social rank, and more. However, colonization put this rich cultural heritage at risk.
Young anthropologists Tahbone and Krutak are actively working to revive tattooing traditions. They study historical sources, photos, and old documents to learn traditional techniques like hand poking and skin stitching.
