Cover image credit: Photo by Henry Busse. Uploaded to Wikimedia Commons by Geo Swan. Public domain. Originally sourced from Wikimedia Commons.
Facial tattoos are culturally significant for the Inuit peoples of Turtle Island (North America). Pre-colonization, the practice was also done for religious purposes to help with passage into the afterlife.
Typically given to women to mark their transition to adulthood, every tunniit (ᑐᓃᑦ) includes unique symbols with personal meanings for each woman.
Today, projects like the Inuit Tattoo Revitalization Project aim to revive the practice and educate the public.
Watch the video to see an Inuit woman receive her very first kakiniit (ᑲᑭᓐᓂᖅ), or body tattoo. What an emotional moment!