Princess Daazharali Johnson (b. 1973)

West Bank, Jordan

I received my tattoo from Holly Nordlum in 2018 with my mother and Sarah Whalen-Lunn present. My mother was the first in our community to give herself traditional facial tattoos back in the ‘80s. Over the years, I grew to learn more and more, and, in retrospect, understand what a bold statement my mother was making in bringing back this beautiful Gwich'in practice. For me it is a deeply personal marker, not only of my womanhood, but also of my humanity. It’s an outward reminder to the world of the great diversity of our cultures and knowledge systems. For myself, it is a reminder of the spiritual path we journey upon, and it is continuity with the generations of women who came before me.

Talivaaq Qinugana/Jerilynn B. Wellert (b. 2004)

Brevig Mission, Alaska

I received my tavluġun (chin tattoo) by Holly Nordlum in May 2017. I hand poked my iqsraġun (cheek tattoo) in 2019.

Alice Qannik Glenn (b. 1989)

Anchorage, Alaska

Holly Nordlum did my traditional hand-poke tattoos in May 2019 at her Anchorage studio. I was going through a rough time in my life, stressing out about my career path, my identity as a Native woman, and my contributions to my community. I felt lost, like I needed a cultural grounding. I reached out to Holly Nordlum, asking her about Inuit cheek tattoos, and set up an appointment. Holly has always been an inspiration and a mentor to me as an Iñupiaq woman. My best friend from home, Margaret Alice, accompanied me. When we got there, Holly gave me a big hug, started telling me stories and joking around, and she immediately put my nerves at ease. She asked me to imagine all my stresses and anxieties leaving my body with each poke of her needle and I did. When she was finished, I felt proud, lighter and freer. Traditionally, some say that cheek tattoos were meant to ward off evil spirits and promote fertility, but for me, they're associated with my upbringing, which is when I felt most free in the world. They represent a sense of freedom I've only ever felt at home in Utqiaġvik -- freedom to explore, freedom from Western beauty ideals, and freedom from outside pressures.

Cynthia Ivan (b. 1986)

Akiak, Alaska

Jamie Harcharek gave me my first line, and Holly Nordlum did the other two on either side of the middle line. The first tattoo I received on my chin is a representation of accomplishment --of engaging a successful college education and helping compose my first Native song, Yaraq. The anniversary of my first traditional tattoo coincides with a very significant tragedy within my family and community. My other two lines represent becoming a leader in my community. I am a city council member and the founder of the Brown Bear Dancers in Akiak. There has not been a dance group since contact in the 1800s when the missionaries first arrived. My chest tattoo is not a traditional Yupiaq tattoo. It is the tradition of our sisters of Greenland of the North. I was told that it is a representation of one who can take on great burdens. I just recently lost my mother and am the eldest, whose job it is to take care of my family.

Erika Jones (b. 1992)

Anchorage, AK

Sarah Whalen gave this tattoo to me through traditional hand poke in January of this year. I was thinking about it for a long time. For me, it is about taking myself and my culture back after going through a hard time.

Aviññaq/Danyal Harvey (b. 1998)

Utqiaġvik, Alaska

Sarah Ayaqi Whalen-Lunn gave me my tavluġun (chin tattoo) when I just had turned 20. The rest I received over time. Sarah gave me my iqsraq (cheek) markings and the six dots outside of my tavluġun for my birthday last year. My markings are sacred. They allow me to express my soul and culture to the rest of the world. They express different ways to honor my ancestors and family. When I was younger, I was ashamed of being Native. Living in the city, being Native came with negative connotations that included bullying and harassment. When I went back home, I was teased for being too much of a "city girl.” This made me feel like I did not have a place anywhere in this world. As I grew older, I began looking within my beautiful culture for myself. I started to strip away any negative emotions and trauma that I built up from my past experiences. My markings celebrate my journey of healing, protection, and self-discovery. They also serve as a reminder of how strong, beautiful, and resilient my people are. Every day I look in the mirror, and I know I am all of these things. It encourages me to not settle for less, and to carry on traditions for other lñupiat/lndigenous youth, who are on their own journey of healing and finding themselves within their culture.

Sarah Whalen Lunn (b. 1977)

Anchorage, Alaska

Holly Nordlum and I tattooed each other's eyes in her home studio on a spring day. A few months later, I woke up and knew it was time to start my tavluġun, which we did in her home studio, as well. Just one row of dots at first. It took me about another year of actually doing the work for other women to know I needed to expand my tavluġun to the three rows of dots I wear now. There are many factors that brought about my decision to wear my traditional markings. One thing I will say is that seeing the strength of the women I was tattooing and the strong need to feel connected to my culture really urged me to wear my markings. It has changed my life and how I view the world, forever.

Kunayaq Qaumaluq Hank (b. 1984)

Wasilla, Alaska

Everything that has happened to me in life, all the death I dealt with, all the blessings around me, I’ve come to cherish only after losing my daughter. It was my time to show my colors, my heritage, to represent my people. My decision to go tribal was my growth as a woman, where I come from and where I’m going in life.

Kimberly Erin Smith (b. 1981)

Bethel, Alaska

I received my chin marking in October 2018, and my forehead and cheek markings in July 2019 from Sarah Whalen-Lunn. With these tattoos, I wanted to bring myself to a place of healing and connect to my roots as a Yup'ik woman. When I received the tattoo, it felt like all she did was reveal what had already been there. It didn’t feel like she marked me, it felt like all she did was wipe away, and they appeared. It felt like I had these my whole life, and I was just hiding them.

Tristan Agnauraq Morgan (b. 1995)

Anchorage, Alaska

Sarah Whalen-Lunn was the one who gave me my tavluġun (chin tattoo) in September of 2018 and my sassuma arnaa (finger tattoos) in January 2019. My traditional tattoos are something very personal and sacred to me, and a completely different mental and spiritual process than any of the other 15 tattoos I have. I receive lots of questions about them, but I'm not always inclined to share my story with everyone who asks. Thankfully people are kind. My tattoos have been a way for me to connect to not only other Inuit people but other Indigenous groups who are reclaiming and reconnecting through the revival of traditional tattoos. My favorite memory is having my hands held by young Iñupiaq girls while they ask me about my tattoos and asked if they could get them, too. That is probably the most exciting and fulfilling part, the connections I make with other Indigenous people through my tavluġun and sassuma arnaa.

Piiyuuk Shields (b. 1994)

Anchorage, Alaska

When I looked at my face, I knew they were always there. I want my nieces and nephews to boldly walk in their Yup'ik identity, so I decided to also, by getting my tattoos.

Bailey Shaeffer (b. 2000)

Anchorage, Alaska

My cousin, Holly Nordlum, gave me my tattoos. I got them during my first Christmas break home from college. Being in a different state pushed me to get them younger because they reminded me of home and family. I have known since I was in high school that I would get tattoos eventually. I also have a lot of people in my life who inspired me to get them.

Soap

A mild, hypoallergenic soap, such as Dr. Bronner’s, is best.

Paper Towels

Gloves

Sharps Container

Required for disposal of any used needles, this sharps container is small enough for a travel kit. A larger container is used in the studio.

After-care bandages

After-care bandages (dressings) are optional. They are used primarily if the tattoo is covered by clothing that might irritate the skin. Bandages are not used for tattoos on hands or face.

Tape

Covering the workspace with a medical tray cover and securing it with tape creates a sterile surface for tools.

Water Bottle

The water bottle is filled with soap and water and wrapped in new sterile covering before each tattoo application.

Ink

Ink containers are filled a little at a time with a small amount of ink and are adhered to the table surface with a dab of Vaseline.

Pen

A pen is used to hand-draw the tattoo design onto skin. Sometimes, a stencil is used to transfer an image from paper onto skin. The pen markings then can be traced with needle tools to make sure there are no errors.

Hand Sanitizer

Sanitizers are used for hands and skin for the duration of tattoo application.

Scissors

Scissors are used to cut the various tapes needed for the workspace.

Vaseline

A wood spatula is used to scoop out and apply Vaseline, or petroleum jelly, to the work surface, which ensures the ink container stays in place. Vaseline is also used to moisturize the skin after wiping off excess ink.

Medical tape

Medical tape like this is used to wrap tools like hand-made tattoo needles to create an ergonomic grip.

Cotton Thread

For hand-stitch tattoos, cotton thread is dipped into ink and stitched through skin.

Antiseptic Towelette

Sanitizers are used for hands and skin for the duration of tattoo application.

Tattoo Needles

Medical Tray Cover

Covering the workspace with a medical tray cover and securing it with tape creates a sterile surface for tools.

Hand-made Tattooing Tool - Final

Finally, the chopstick and needle are wrapped generously with medical tape to create an ergonomic grip.

Threaded Tattoo Needles

Sterile, single-use, tattoo needles are used for hand-stitching tattoos.

Emily Lang

Emily Lang
(b. Anchorage, AK)

Lang practices at High Tide Tattoo in Juneau, Alaska.

Arielo Bisco Taylor

Arielo Bisco Taylor
(b. Anchorage, AK)

Taylor works at Body Piercing Unlimited in downtown Anchorage. He learned to tattoo from a friend and has been practicing professionally ever since. The linework of his design combines neo-traditional elements of Alaska animals with familiar tattoo forms like roses and skulls.

Carlos Figueroa

Carlos Figueroa
(b. Morelos, Mexico)

Figueroa and his wife both practice at Primal Instinct Tattoo, in Anchorage. Figueroa’s design combines the imagery of Alaska wildlife with geometric patterning.

Chantell Lillard

Chantell Lillard
(b. Soldotna, AK)

Lillard has worked as a tattooist at Warhorn Tattoo, in Palmer, Alaska, since 2013. It was her childhood dream to become a tattoo artist.

Danielle Figueroa

Danielle Figueroa
(b. Redding, CA)

Figueroa practices at Primal Instinct Tattoo, in Anchorage, where she has been working for fourteen years. She went into tattooing as a way to professionalize her art-making and connect with people in an intimate way. This design was created for an Alaska hunter, representing the skull of a moose he took down and used to provide food for his family.

Elizabeth Lent

Elizabeth Lent
(b. Fort Sill, OK)

Lent works at Ultra Violence Tattoo in Anchorage, Alaska, and this is her first year in the industry. She feels that tattooing “found her.”

Erin Fowler

Erin Fowler (Scott?)

Scott has been tattooing at Ultra Violence Tattoo in Anchorage for five years.

Holly Nordlum

Holly Nordlum
(b. Kotzebue/Qikiktagruq)

Nordlum is a tatoo artist based in Anchorage, Alaska. This design represents traditional healing and bringing Inuit peoples together.

Jake Scrivner

Jake Scrivner
(b. Anchorage, Alaska)

Scrivner is the owner of Ultra Violence Tattoo in Anchorage. His passion for getting tattoos led him into the profession, and he has now been working in the industry for 13 years. His design was created with Micron and Copic markers and represents a chrysanthemum and a girl.

James Allen

James Allen
(b. Anchorage, Alaska)

Allen is the son of Larry Allen, founder of the Anchorage Tattoo Studio by Larry Allen. His father started the shop in 1975, so Allen grew up around tattooing, traveling to conventions and visiting different studios. He began tattooing after high school and has been a practicing tattooist for 25 years.

Miss Jenn

Miss Jenn
(b. Anchorage, AK)

Kasha Palmer

Kasha Palmer
(b. Anchorage, Alaska)

Palmer has a background in industrial design education and has been practicing tattoo for 11 years. This design was inspired by a Tlingit fur-lined bag with the artist’s clan crest on the front. The Tlingit eagle in the background represents the Kagwantan clan.

Kein Cruser

Kein Cruser
(b. Shimizu, Japan)

Cruser is currently an apprentice at Anchorage Tattoo Studio. He grew up skateboarding and doing graffiti in Southern California. Those creative outlets transformed into wanting to make tattoos. By the time he graduated high school, he was sure he wanted to create tattoos for a living.

Kevin Harden

Kevin Harden
(b. Bremerton, WA)

Harden practices at The Hole Look in Anchorage. He has been working in tattoo for 28 years, and is drawn to the profession for its creativity, variety, and rebelliousness. This design was inked traditionally with a variety of pens for different effects. It is inspired by the form of an animal skull, morphing into organic forms.

Laura Craver

Laura Craver
(b. Anchorage, Alaska)

Craver first worked at the counter in tattoo shop and fell in love with tattooing as a means of self-expression. She has been tattooing at Primal Instinct in Anchorage for nine years. Her design was created for a client who wanted to celebrate their love all things related to the Alaska wilderness.

Lui Tall

Lui Tall
(b. American Samoa)

Tall grew up around tattoo in the Polynesian community and has been practicing tattoo since 1996, most recently at Lal Uso Tattoo shop in Anchorage. His design depicts a stylized Alaska salmon.

Chongo

Nathaniel Chongo
(b. Long Beach, California)

Chango has been working at Tatau in Anchorage for ten years. His design represents Mictlantecuhtli, the Aztec god of death.

Reed Leslie

Reed Leslie
(b. Colorado)

Leslie is the owner of Reed Ink in Anchorage, Alaska, and has been working in the industry for 26 years.

Sarah Whalen

Sarah Whalen
(b. Wabash, Indiana)

Whalen-Lunn is a tattoo artist based in Anchorage, Alaska. This drawing, Solstice, depicts evening releasing her grip on our world and opening back up to the sun, siqiñiq, in Iñupiaq.

Shara Diamond

Shara Diamond
(b. Anchorage, Alaska)

Diamond has been working at The Hole Look for three years. She got into tattoo because she loves art and working with people. She was mentored by tattoo artist Dave Lang. Her design features American Traditional tattoo imagery. The mythical woman in the center represents the spirit of an artist. The falcon represents her dedication, love and respect for her craft. The Latin phrase Ars Longa, Vita Brevis means "Art is Long (forever), Life is Short."

William White

William White
(b. Mendocino, CA)

White tattoos at Primal Instinct Tattoo in Anchorage, and has been working in the industry for eight years. White was inspired to get into tattooing by his older sister. This design was the result of a commision to represent  the mythological story of Persephone and Hades.