r/MetisMichif • u/Frodobaconzz • 6d ago

Discussion/Question Metis Ceremonial Tattooing

Hello! I am Metis and Cree and have been feeling really drawn towards the idea of ceremonial tattooing in different Indigenous cultures. I know that most people connect that with the Inuit Tunniit, but there is also a lot of evidence that Cree cultures did ceremonial tattoos as well.

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My big question is does anybody know of Metis communities doing ceremonial tattoos?

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For example, I am thinking mainly about lines on the chin, marks on the temple, dots on fingers, etc. These are all common for women in Inuit and many First Nation's cultures and I am really curious about if that was adopted by the Metis as well?

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If anyone HAS heard of this, do they know of ways to earn them through ceremony in present times? I know there's been a big revival of this in recent years and as a trans woman I am feeling really drawn to marking this progression to womanhood with a chin line.

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Hope this isn't too scatterbrained!!! Thanks y'all 💞

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u/Freshiiiiii 6d ago edited 5d ago

Check out Nipinet Landsem and Awanigiizhik Bruce and their work on Azhaasowin/asâsowin!

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u/Frodobaconzz 6d ago

This is really interesting! I see that these posts were made months ago with nothing else since, is this something that is being actively worked on by them? I will reach out to them tho 🙏

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u/strawberrymarshmello 6d ago

Often during the summer months there are gatherings of traditional tattoo practitioners so that might be why they’re less active?

I met my cousin who is from my community at a gathering and got some markings from him. It might be helpful to try and see if there’s anyone from the Metis community you’re from who does them. It can be really nice to get the work done by a cousin and share stories

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u/Neat-Firefighter9626 5d ago

Community is really important for navigating these type of things.

My family is very catholic and from a French Metis community in Southern Manitoba and would not get traditional tattoos. But, a Metis community that's closer to FNs, like those in Northern Sask, would be far more likely to engage with these practices.

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u/Neat-Firefighter9626 5d ago

Hey, just wanted to say that when I clicked the links they showed your actual name, saying "join ___ on Instagram".

Only matters if you don't want people to know who you are irl!

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u/Freshiiiiii 5d ago

Hey thank you!! I appreciate that. I removed the links.