Skindigenous ALASKA
Marjorie Tahbone, an Alaskan artist of Inupiaq heritage, was first among the living women of her family to get her traditional chin tattoo. Because no one was practicing the tattooing art at the time, she had to get her markings from a non-Indigenous artist in Fairbanks. Significant as the experience was, it ignited in Marjorie a desire to revive the practice for her community. Following this desire, she took up the tools and the old methods and became a full-fledged traditional tattooist working in the Inupiaq tradition. Thanks to Marjorie and other culture bearers across the North, the tradition of inking women’s skin to mark major life events and to symbolize spiritual beliefs is once again a part of Indigenous life in the region.
Exploring Indigenous tattooing traditions around the world. Each episode dives into a unique Indigenous culture to discover the tools and techniques, the symbols and traditions that shape their tattooing art.
Primary Title
- Skindigenous
Episode Title
- ALASKA
Date Broadcast
- Monday 7 September 2020
Start Time
- 19 : 30
Finish Time
- 20 : 00
Duration
- 30:00
Series
- 1
Episode
- 10
Channel
- Maori Television
Broadcaster
- Maori Television Service
Programme Description
- Exploring Indigenous tattooing traditions around the world. Each episode dives into a unique Indigenous culture to discover the tools and techniques, the symbols and traditions that shape their tattooing art.
Episode Description
- Marjorie Tahbone, an Alaskan artist of Inupiaq heritage, was first among the living women of her family to get her traditional chin tattoo. Because no one was practicing the tattooing art at the time, she had to get her markings from a non-Indigenous artist in Fairbanks. Significant as the experience was, it ignited in Marjorie a desire to revive the practice for her community. Following this desire, she took up the tools and the old methods and became a full-fledged traditional tattooist working in the Inupiaq tradition. Thanks to Marjorie and other culture bearers across the North, the tradition of inking women’s skin to mark major life events and to symbolize spiritual beliefs is once again a part of Indigenous life in the region.
Classification
- G
Owning Collection
- TV & Radio
Broadcast Platform
- Television
Languages
- English
Captions
Live Broadcast
- No
Rights Statement
- Made for the University of Auckland's educational use as permitted by the Screenrights Licensing Agreement.
Subjects
- Tribal tattoos
- Tattooing--History
- Tattooing--Social aspects
- Documentary television programs--Canada
Genres
- Art
- Biography
- Community
- Documentary
- Interview
Contributors
- Jason Brennan (Producer)
- Candy Palmater (Narrator)
- Pierre-Yves Martel (Composer)
- Shirley K. Sneve (Executive Producer)
- Nish Media (Production Unit)
- Vision Maker Media (Production Unit)
- Corporation for Public Broadcasting (Funder)
- Marjorie Tahbone (Subject)
- Sonia Bonspille-Boileau (Director)
- Sonia Bonspille-Boileau (Writer)
Subjects
- Tribal tattoos
- Tattooing--History
- Tattooing--Social aspects
- Documentary television programs--Canada