Indigenous Tribes in Canada Revive Sacred Tattoo Traditions

Indigenous leaders in Canada are reviving ancient tattoo traditions once banned by colonial law. The tattoos, often hand-poked, symbolize identity, resilience, and connection to ancestors.

Elder Mary Blackbird explained: “Every line is a prayer, every mark a memory. Our tattoos are our history written on the skin.”An Indigenous elder hand-poking a tattoo on a young woman during a cultural ceremony.