The art of Inuit Tattooing, once on the brink of extinction, is experiencing a powerful resurgence thanks to the dedication of artists and cultural preservationists. The Inuit Tattoo Revitalization Project stands as a beacon of this movement, having re-inked dozens of women and published a significant book, all while breathing life back into a nearly lost ancestral practice. Photographer Cora DeVos, known as Little Inuk Photography, has been a vital part of this journey from its inception, capturing the poignant stories and transformative experiences along the way. Invited by project founder Angela Hovak Johnston, DeVos has journeyed across the Canadian Arctic, documenting the profound narratives woven into each tattoo and each woman’s life.
In a revealing interview, Cora DeVos shares her unique perspective on the project’s evolution and the profound impact the revival of Inuit tattoos has had, both on herself and the women embracing this cultural reclamation.
The Inuit Tattoo Revitalization Project: Reclaiming a Lost Art
The seeds of the Inuit Tattoo Revitalization Project were sown in a deep friendship and a shared cultural heritage. Cora DeVos recounts how her bond with Angela Hovak Johnston, dating back to their high school years in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, sparked her involvement. Learning that traditional Inuit tattooing was part of their shared ancestry was a revelation for DeVos. When Johnston considered getting tunniit, traditional facial tattoos, DeVos’s curiosity ignited. Her initial research blossomed into a deep appreciation for this art form. Having photographed Johnston since childhood, DeVos was a natural choice when Johnston envisioned the revitalization project. Seeking to involve fellow Inuit, Johnston invited DeVos to document the journey, marking the beginning of DeVos’s intimate involvement with this cultural resurgence.
Cora DeVos captures the emotional moment of Trisha Ogina receiving her traditional Inuit tattoos, highlighting the intimate and personal nature of the revitalization project.
The project’s inaugural community visit to Kugluktuk, Nunavut, proved to be a powerful catalyst. Initially expecting to tattoo twelve women, the team’s impact resonated deeply, leading to twenty-six women receiving tattoos during that single visit. This overwhelming response underscored the yearning for cultural connection and the potent symbolism embodied in Inuit tattoos.
Cora DeVos’s Journey: Documenting Cultural Reconnection
For DeVos, being part of these tattooing sessions is more than just photography; it’s witnessing personal transformations and cultural awakenings. She describes the profound experience of documenting each woman’s journey, capturing the raw emotions and stories etched onto their skin and souls. Looking through her photographs, DeVos sees the radiant joy in the women’s eyes as they behold their new tunniit. She articulates it as witnessing a reconnection, a bringing back together of a fragmented sense of self. Beyond the tattooing process, DeVos conducts dedicated photo sessions, aiming to showcase the beauty and pride these women embody, sharing their revitalized heritage with the world.
Mary Taletok Agangit proudly displays her traditional Inuit facial tattoos in a portrait by Cora DeVos, symbolizing cultural pride and the revitalization of ancestral markings.
DeVos poignantly shares her own story of cultural reconnection through Inuit tattoos. Raised in the South, far from her Inuit roots, she felt a persistent cultural void. This longing was filled when she embraced tattooing. Her wrist tattoos, a personal emblem representing her daughters, husband, and life’s journey, and her finger tattoos, symbolizing daily encounters and life’s path, serve as constant reminders of connection and cultural identity.
Her family’s journey with Inuit tattoos is particularly moving. Initially resistant due to the painful legacy of residential schools and the imposed shame on Inuit culture, DeVos’s mother underwent a profound transformation. Witnessing the project’s positive impact in Cambridge Bay, her hometown, and hearing the deeply personal stories, she experienced a change of heart. In a powerful moment of vulnerability, she expressed her desire to be tattooed. Together, mother and daughter designed symbols representing her life, and she now wears her tunniit with immense pride, marking a personal and intergenerational healing.
The Power of Tunniit: More Than Just Ink
The stories surrounding Inuit tattoos are deeply personal and varied, yet they share a common thread of cultural reclamation and healing. DeVos emphasizes the intensely personal nature of each woman’s narrative. The emotional spectrum within these sessions is vast, ranging from tears to joyous laughter, as women release pent-up emotions and embrace their ancestral markings. Witnessing this emotional release and subsequent transformation is a powerful testament to the healing power of cultural reconnection. The tattoos become more than just ink; they are catalysts for self-discovery, pride, and cultural belonging.
The Inuit Tattoo Revitalization Project has extended its reach across various communities, including Kugluktuk and Ulukhaktok in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region in 2017, and Cambridge Bay in 2018. DeVos estimates she has taken thousands upon thousands of photographs, working tirelessly to document every nuance of these transformative experiences. The dedication is evident in the long hours and the sheer volume of stories captured through her lens.
Cora DeVos’s photograph of her mother, Adeline Kavanna, displaying her Inuit tattoos, embodies the intergenerational impact of the revitalization project and the personal significance of tunniit.
Looking ahead, the project aims to expand its reach to the Eastern Arctic. Angela Hovak Johnston is actively seeking funding and support to bring the revitalization to even more communities, fueled by the profound impact already witnessed.
Reawakening Our Ancestors’ Lines: Sharing the Story
The publication of “Reawakening Our Ancestors’ Lines” marks a significant milestone for the project. Featuring predominantly DeVos’s photographs, the book serves as a powerful medium to share the beauty and significance of Inuit tattoos with a wider audience. For DeVos, the book’s reach, especially to Inuit communities in the North and to those in the South seeking cultural understanding, is deeply meaningful. It’s a tool for reclaiming a cultural heritage that was once suppressed, allowing Inuit people to reconnect with their past and share their revitalized pride with the world. The book encapsulates the diverse and deeply personal journeys of the tattooed women, each story adding to the rich tapestry of Inuit tattoo tradition.
While DeVos has showcased her photographs locally, her vision extends to wider exhibitions, hoping to share the project’s powerful message and the beauty of Inuit culture with a global audience.
Cora DeVos captures the precise artistry of Hovak Johnston applying a stencil for Inuit tattoos on Skye Corey, illustrating the meticulous process and cultural care involved in the revitalization project.
DeVos’s sustained presence throughout the tattooing process, from the initial design to the final portrait, fosters a unique sense of intimacy and trust with her subjects. This deep connection enhances the authenticity and emotional depth of her photographs, making them powerful visual narratives of cultural resurgence. Beyond documentation, the project has fostered unexpected connections and strengthened community bonds. DeVos recounts a poignant story of discovering a shared connection with another woman through a childhood friend, highlighting the project’s ability to weave together lives and histories in unexpected and meaningful ways.
Ultimately, the Inuit Tattoo Revitalization Project is about healing—personal, cultural, and intergenerational. DeVos vividly describes the emotional release and transformative joy experienced by the women. Witnessing this journey from sorrow to empowerment is a privilege, underscoring the profound and lasting impact of reclaiming ancestral traditions through Inuit tattoos.
