Southeastern Ancestral Tattoos

Written By Mothership .

SOUTHEASTERN TATTOO ARTISTS BRING ANCESTRAL ART TO CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY


Want to learn more about southeastern ancestral tattoos? The ancient art of southeastern ancestral tattooing is making its way to California as two talented tattoo artists from the Southeast set up shop at the Indigenous Tattoo and Music Convention, in Lemoore CA, June 5-6-7 at Taachi Palace. The Mothership Tattoo Collective will have a booth featuring several indigenous tattooers, two of which are Kii Johnson (Mvskoke & Cheyenne Arapaho) and Ashely Foreman (Cherokee). Along with other community members and researchers, they are part of a movement working to revitalize traditional southeastern tattoos for community members.

Southeastern ancestral tattoos, which celebrate and honor the rich history and traditions of southeastern tribal nations, including the Mvskoke, Chocktaw, Chickasaw, Cherokee, and Seminole. Their work not only serves as body art but also as a means of storytelling, connecting individuals to their heritage and identity.

You're invited! The artists extend an invite to southeastern community members who would like to get tattooed by artists of southeastern heritage. Whether traditional ancestral handpoke, or contemporary work with machines, if you have been looking to receive your Inchunwa, we have artists who want to help you.

Where and when: Both artists will be attending the Indigenous Tattoo and Music Convention in Lemoore, CA June 5-6-7 at Taachi Palace, and will be accepting clientele for both the convention, as well as at The Mothership Tattoo Collective. The following week, Kii will be guest spotting at the tattoo shop and is available for appointments, and Foreman is based there regularly. 

More about the artists:
Hodokii, or Kii, Johnson is a 2Spirit Mvskoke + Cheyenne Arapaho tattoo artist based in Tulsa, OK. They began their tattoo journey hand poking, and utilize the skill of hand poke to give back to the Southeastern tribal community with ancestral markings. Kii also practices modern tattooing techniques with a machine, and values intentionality and integrity in their work. Kii aims to create a safe space for indigenous and queer people to express their identity through tattoos. https://www.instagram.com/hodokiijohnson/

Ashely Foreman is a Cherokee Nation Citizen, co-owner and tattoo artist at The Mothership Tattoo Collective in Auburn, CA who connected with a group of individuals going by the name of the Inchunwa Project, based in Oklahoma, while attending The Indigenous Tattoo and Music Convention in 2024, which includes Johnson. Foreman, an award-winning artist, is largely inspired by contemporary approaches to traditional imagery, especially basket patterns, and was inspired to find that there was a community effort to revitalize southeastern tattoo imagery, practices, and ceremony.  https://www.instagram.com/faelien.ink

The tattoo shop has a focus on eco-conscious practices surrounding tattoo materials and has started to grow as a hub for cultural tattoo revitalization, including Filipino Batok which is offered by the other co-owner, Penguin Rafferty.

To learn more about Inchunwa:

Mothership .
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Indigenous Markings: A Stance on Cultural Integrity