#the tattoo project

[uwmspeccoll]

The author, Angela Hovak Johnston.

Johnston and Marjorie Tungwenuk Tahbone, traditional tattoo artist.

Catherine Niptanatiak: "I designed my own, something that represents me and who I am, something that I would be proud to wear and show off, and something that would make me feel confident and beautiful. . . . I have daughters and I would like to teach them what I know. I would like for them to want to practice our traditions and keep our culture alive."

Cecile Nelvana Lyall: "On my hand tattoos, from the top down, the triangles represent the mountains. . . . The Ys are the tools used in seal hunting. . . . The dots are my ancestors. . . . I am so excited to be able to truly call myself and Inuk woman."

Colleen Nivingalok: "The tattoos on my face represent my family and me. The lines on my chin are my four children -- my two older boys on the outside protecting my daughters. The lines on my cheeks represent the two boys and the two girls on either side. The one on my forehead represents their father and me. Together, we live for our children."

Doreen Ayalikyoak Evyagotailak: "I have thought about getting traditional tattoos since I was a teenager. . . . When I asked the elders if I could have my own meaning for my tattoos, they said it wouldn't matter. My tattoos symbolize my kids."

Mary Angele Takletok: "I always wanted traditional tattoos like the women in the old days. I wanted them on my wrists and my fingers so I could show I'm Inuk."

Melissa MacDonald Hinanik: "As a part of celebrating my heritage and revitalizing important traditional customs that form my identity, I believe I have earned my tattoos. I am a beautiful, strong young woman. I am a mother, a wife, a daughter, a friend, and an active community member. I reclaim the traditional customs as mine, I re-own them as a part of who I am."

Star Westwood: "We still have some of our culture, but some things are slowly dying. Having tattoos helps us keep our culture alive. . . . . My tattoos represent my dad and my dad's dad. The ones closest to my wrists represent my sisters."

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National Tattoo Day

July 17 is National Tattoo Day. To celebrate, we present some images from Reawakening Our Ancestors' Lines: Revitalizing Inuit Traditional Tattooing, compiled by Angela Hovak Johnston, co-founder with Marjorie Tahbone of the Inuit Tattoo Revitalization Project, with photographs by Inuit photographer Cora DeVos, and published in Iqaluit, Nunavut by Inhabit Media Inc. in 2017.

For thousands of years, Inuit have practiced the traditional art of tattooing. Created the ancient way, with bone needles and caribou sinew soaked in seal oil, sod, or soot, these tattoos were an important tradition for many Inuit women, symbols etched on their skin that connected them to their families and communities. But with the rise of missionaries and residential schools in the North, the tradition of tattooing was almost lost. In 2005, when Angela Hovak Johnston heard that the last Inuk woman tattooed in the old way had died, she set out to tattoo herself in tribute to this ancient custom and learn how to tattoo others. What was at first a personal quest became a project to bring the art of traditional tattooing back to Inuit women across Nunavut.

Collected in this book are photos and stories from more than two dozen women who participated in Johnston's project. Together, these women have united to bring to life an ancient tradition, reawakening their ancestors' lines and sharing this knowledge with future generations. Hovak Johnston writes: "Never again will these Inuit traditions be close to extinction, or only a part of history you read about in books. This is my mission."

Reawakening Our Ancestors' Lines forms part of our Indigenous America Literature Collection.

Angela Hovak Johnston (right) with her cousin Janelle Angulalik and her aunt Millie Navalik Angulalik.

View other posts from our Indigenous America Literature Collection.

[fakesorbet]

The Bad Kids + Summer drinks

[ribbittrobbit]

the ball bouncing around in his office

(not seen: any one of the bad kids or his mom, nodding along)

[xmoonshardx]

Forgot to show y’all my Miku tattoo planning on getting more color in it eventually but I love Mikuchan so much 😭🥹🦋

[darlingshane]

Jon Bernthal via ig.

[lulu2992]

John Seed ❈ The Baptist

Reaper of Eden’s Gate

[nekoekko-art]

scritch scratch for the Liu besties and a small hc~

anw, tastewise, I think Meursault and Gregor like lighter noodles while Ishy likes the ones with more flavor. Hong Lu is a different breed because he puts too much stuff in and just makes it spicy

also also, Ishy initially ate alone but the other 3 caught her once and then they started hanging out with each other! A group of besties!

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

We can’t keep doing this.

[First] Prev <–-> Next

[inklessletter]

Tattoo artist in training 💕💕💕

So, I have recently started a tattoo course, and this is one of my practices. I know some lines are meh, but this is my first project. The original art is not mine, though, I don't know who the artist is, sadly (if any of you recognise who it is, please DM it to me so I can credit them!), but this image was so gorgeous and perfect for what I needed to practice.

Becoming a tattoo artist is something that has been on the back of my mind for years and years. Never had the courage to pursue it though. I'm so glad I stopped running.

[aiiaiiiyo]

[luzho]

zukka go earrings shopping!

yesterday i saw @bleekay’s post about sokka being an earrings guy… and i HAD to let these guys go on a shopping date!! based on earrings i do own:) and the poses on this photo by chiron duoung

[ID: This is a digital drawing of Sokka and Zuko, drawn from the shoulders up, in warm colors and against a blank background. In the center, Sokka looks flustered and exhilarated while trying new twinkling lavender earrings, wearing his classic collar with a blue tank top. Very close and looking lovingly right at him, Zuko shows him one shiny and golden snake earring while sporting short hair, a green t-shirt, a septum piercing, snake bite piercings and fire-themed earrings.  End ID]

[queenie-ofthe-void]

Eddie, Will, and El opening a tattoo shop together.

Eddie's all shit-post tattoos in American Traditional, muted colors

Will's style is large murals, vibrant colors, with fantasy themes

El is exclusively shaded, fine-line minimalism

[nekoekko-art]

happi happi happi Greg

[the-hex-project]

#FEB600

[ratshells]

I need fashion designer vere like i need air to breathe.

Like Vere is very in tune with how he looks at all time so why wouldn’t he be making his own clothes.. who knows what he likes better than him. Sketchbook somewhat is full of messy little fashion sketches… got a little fabric trunk in his room (???? do we know how he’s living even).. super critical of the fabrics his clothes are made of. Or I could also see him crocheting (He was told that it was a good stress reliever and begrudgingly picked it up but actually enjoys it now)

Maybe if he likes you enough (idk how much enough is), he’ll make something for you

[dewdrops-whammy-bar]

Dew's Tattoos

My headcanon about Dewdrop and his tattoos! Warning for mention of needles, extremely unsanitary tattoo practice, and some elemental transition related body horror.

Dew has a bunch of stick-and-poke tattoos. He started doing them when he was still a water ghoul, using the end of a broken guitar string and a pen he’d chewed open. They were tiny at first- little stars, frowny faces with x-ed out eyes, and a Satanic cross, all on his upper thighs. They all faded in months, so Dew just tattooed new designs over them. His tools got a little better, he was using a sewing pin sterilized with a lighter and some calligraphy ink he’d stolen from the library. He slowly started to get better, his lines got steadier, and he even started sketching up designs rather than freehanding them.

Then his elemental transition happened. The process was excruciating- his body had to remake itself from the ground up. His fins necrotized and fell off and his coral-like horns grew brittle and crumbled away. His gills stung and itched as they sealed shut. He wanted this, had always felt off regarding his element of water, but he almost thought it wasn’t worth it. He kept telling himself it would be over soon but it just kept going.

It took six months for the transformation to be complete. When Dew was finally able to look in the mirror, he saw himself. It was freeing. The only thing he missed from his old body was the tattoos. Somewhere through the process of growing new flesh, the ink had disappeared. He mourned them- they were symbols of his growth and something that made his body uniquely his.

Dew started tattooing himself again, this time with slightly better tools. He used some sterile needles he’d swiped from the infirmary and managed to get his hands on some real tattoo ink. His designs started on his thighs, but moved to his arms, stomach, hips, and lower down his legs. His packmates watched him grow more comfortable in his new form as ink spread across his body.

However, Aether was horrified when Dew described his process the first time. He then gave him an hour-long lecture on sterilization and infections. Dew pointed out that it was very unlikely for ghouls to get wound infections while Topside but Aether insisted that Dew take the proper precautions when tattooing himself in the future, including doing it in the infirmary where it was cleaner. Dew agreed and ordered some proper equipment.

After a while, Aether let Dew tattoo something onto him- his favorite constellation, Ursa Major, in white ink on his wrist. Once healed, it became Dew’s favorite spot to kiss. He’ll never admit it to anyone, but the sight of his own art- even just a simple design- on his mate’s body makes him ridiculously happy. When Aether got top surgery, Dew tattooed more constellations along the scars. He also tattooed his own scars with flame designs.

He’s got some tattoos that are professionally done (mostly on his back, where he can’t reach) that he got on tour, but most of them are done himself.