Kanen’tó:kon Hemlock of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy has been helping revive tattooing traditions that were lost as a result of colonization. Using cultural and traditional protocols from the past, as well as modern sanitation practices, he is the first in several hundred years to tattoo in this tradition.

Stephanie Big Eagle is a traditional hand poke tattoo artist. She utilizes both traditional and modern designs on her clients to activate their energy, protect their spirit, and honour their accomplishments and heritage. She often weaves Indigenous activism into her designs to directly support Indigenous rights movements and their efforts to protect the earth.

After developing an interest in ancestral Naga patterns and symbols while studying fashion design, Mo Naga decided to spend more time researching their meaning. Today, as a traditional tattoo artist based in New Delhi, India, he helps preserve and revive part of his culture by tattooing these ancient designs on his fellow Naga people and sharing his Neo-Naga creations with foreigners.

Paiwan artist Cudjuy Patjidres comes from Sapulju, located in Taimali Township, Taitung County, Taiwan. When he was 25 years old, he came across an old photograph of a Paiwan warrior with tattoos all over on his body. Inspired by the picture, he picked up the art of traditional hand-tapping tattoos.

Audie Murray is a multidisciplinary Michif artist from treaty 4 territory. She is currently learning and creating on the unseeded territories of the Coast Salish peoples. Audie works closely with traditional Cree tattoos and Michif visual culture, often drawing from familial patterns and designs such as floral beadwork. She uses both hand poke and skin stitching methods, but prioritizes skin stitching in her practice.

Isaac Murdoch is a well-respected storyteller and traditional knowledge holder from the fish clan, Serpent River First Nation. He spent many years in northern Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba learning from Elders. He is always keen to transfer knowledge to youth by leading workshops and cultural camps. His areas of expertise include traditional Ojibway paint, imagery and symbolism, harvesting, medicine walks, ceremonial knowledge, Anishinaabe oral history and birch bark canoe and scroll making.

Julie has been involved with tā moko since the 1980s as a pioneer of the moko revival and the first woman involved in these traditions. She tattooed full peha or puhoro (covering the lower back, hips and thighs to the knee) on two women, challenging the entitlement of women to wear this moko. In 2012, Julie opened a studio in Mount Maunganui where she uses eco-friendly products and vegan inks. She has also begun reviving traditional Māori hand-tap processes.

Pip Hartley’s devotion to tā moko is evident in her work. She has an innate ability to translate stories and flow with the contours of the body using both traditional and contemporary tools. Pip is the mastermind behind Indigenous tattoo studio Karanga Ink in Auckland. Sharing knowledge of ancient symbology through contemporary Indigenous markings is one of the ways Pip serves her community and empowers the next generation of artists to carry the art form forward while respecting its roots.

Ippiksaut Friesen is an Inuk multimedia artist from Rankin Inlet, Nunavut. She has a bachelor’s degree in Media Arts from Emily Carr University and attended the Earthline Tattoo training residency where she learned the art of Inuit tattooing with hand poke and skin stitch. She currently resides in Iqaluit and has been helping women reclaim their culture through intricate tattoo designs.

Joe Patty-Sabandar from the Patasiwa Allane clan is a master tattooist. He practices ancient spiritual skin work from the islands of Molo’uku. Joe is one of the last practitioners in the world of this ancient tattoo culture. His family is a pillar in the revival of traditional Pa’atei.

Kwiaahwah Jones is an important figure in Haida contemporary art. Born on the Haida Gwaii archipelago off the northwestern coast of British Columbia, Kwi won the 2005 Vancouver International Airport Art Foundation Scholarship for young Northwest Coast artists. Her interest for Haida art and culture fueled her desire to revive the knowledge of her community and incited her to work as an artist, curator and traditional Haida hand poke tattoo artist.

Manel Mahdouani is an internationally renowned Tunisian tattoo artist located in Tunis. She studied Psychology and Fine Arts at university before starting a 6-month apprenticeship in 2013. She began tattooing professionally in 2014. Manel specializes in Amazigh tattoos, Arabic calligraphy, geometric and small tattoos.

Two Ravens is an Opata tattoo artist based in California. He was born, raised and resides in occupied Tongva territory in Los Angeles and works out of Sacred Art tattoo studio in downtown L.A. Following an incident while protecting water at Standing Rock, he lost the vision in his right eye and has been working only with his left eye ever since. Two Ravens only tattoos in grey scale and prefers Indigenous and realistic designs and source material.