Skindigenous – An Ancient Technique With a Modern Twist

Are you interested in the art of tattooing?

Do you love watching documentaries?

Or are you wanting to learn more about Native cultures?

Then Skindigenous 2 is for you!

The 13 part, half-hour each documentary series called Skindigenous 2 “explores Indigenous tattooing traditions around the world” and began airing on January 21st on Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN). The first season aired in 2018 and was obviously a huge hit.

On the show, modern-day tattoo artists use their creativity, skill, and love for their community and heritage to produce works of art that not only tell a story but also keep the spirit of their cultures alive.

“Many [of the artists] are reviving or assuring the continuation of traditional techniques such as skin stitch or hand poke. Others aim to introduce their culture to the people around them” (MailChi.mp article).

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7jlcg5ls5B/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Two of the magnificent artists (click on their names to link to their Instagram page or website) you will get to know during season 2 are…

Stephanie Big Eagle

(or check out her personal website HERE!)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B6PED4eFBRd/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

This gal from New Mexico is a “traditional hand poke tattoo artist, who weaves Indigenous activism into her designs and became a prominent figure in the Dakota pipeline protests, where her thunder hawk hand poke design became a symbol of the standoff.”

Watch a video of traditional hand poke tattooing in the works

Audie Murray

Audie, who is a Métis artist, “grew up in Regina and Lebret, Sask. She works closely with traditional Cree tattoos and Michif visual culture and uses both hand poke and skin stitching methods.”

Watch a video of traditional skin stitching tattooing in the works.