Basic Guide to Indigenous Tattoos

What was the reason for Inuit women to get tattoos?

• To seem more appealing to the others

• To mark important events

• To look cool among others

• To have them as an amulet

Answer explanation

Receiving tattoos was held as a ceremony that marked important events in a woman’s life, for example, the birth of child.

What is significant for Haida tattoos?

• Thin, detailed lines

• Multi-coloured blocks

• The colours red, black and blue

• Forest creatures

Answer explanation

Haida traditional art has only 3 colours : black, red, blue.

What are Inuit tattoos called?

• Amauti

• Kyak

• Kakiniit

• Atanarjuat

Answer explanation

Kakiniit are the traditional Inuit tattoos.

When Indigenous tattoos were banned?

• 1500s

• 1600s

• 1700s

• 1800s

Answer explanation

The decline of traditional Inuit tattooing began with the arrival of Christian missionaries in Canada in the 1600s.

What should be offered to get knowledge about one's tattoos?

• Sewing materials

• Berries

• Your own knowledge

• Invitation for a meal

Answer explanation

Appropriate trades for traditional knowledge could include offering a product from our local fish plant or an invitation for a meal. Trades can also come in the form of sewing materials or groceries.

What should you do before asking about traditional tattoos?

• You can just ask straightforward

• Offer a meal

• Ask how they day was

• Get to know the person

In the majority of Indigenous languages there are no terms such as...

• ''shaman''

• ''leader''

• ''art''

• ''artist''

Answer explanation

... tribal peoples rarely describe tattooing as an artistic or aesthetic practice because there are no terms for ‘art' or ‘artist' in the majority of indigenous languages.

How old is facial tattooing practice?

• At least 10,000 years

• At least 15,000 years

• At least 20,000 years

• At least 25,000 years

Answer explanation

The practice is at least 10,000 years old, but — as with language, food and other Indigenous customs — the practice fell out of use following bans and taboos set by European colonizers in the 1900s.

What are the 2 types of tattoos that could be tattooed the first?

• Finger tattoo

• Chin tattoo

• V-shaped tattoo

• Thigh tattoo

Answer explanation

"V"-shaped tattoo on our forehead represents womanhood and was often one of the first tattoos received by an Inuk, [..] However, our lands and people are both vast and diverse. In other parts of Inuit Nunangat, a person's first tattoo was often on the chin.

What are the two techniques used for Indigenous tattoos?

• Stick and Poke

• Rake and Striking Stick

• Skin-stitching

• Bamboo

Answer explanation

The traditional practice of tattooing was either the technique of Hand-poking - also known as Stick and Poke - or Skin-stitching.