Tradional Tattoo?

[Josiah]

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These are 3 different varations of the tattoo I am trying to decribe, can ANYONE explain it to me, I am not getting the tattoo bc of looks, or for my dance style, or any reason other than I want it to show my connection with my culture and pride. A sign of what I represent.

Yes I was wondering if my fellow males could help me out here. I am looking to be very tradional and I notice alot of native males have a very specific tattoo on there forearms. I was wondering what is the meaning and tribal connection with them. I am Cherokee, Shawnee, and Cheyenne so not much holds me back but I dont want to disrespect anyone by putting the wrong marking on my body so could you guys help me out here. All my native culture background is all researched by myself b/c I don't have supporting family so PLEASE help a fellow NDN out!

I thought I had seen those Tattoos before:

Daniel Day Lewis:




Mohawk Extra:




As for "Traditional" Cherokee Tattoos those were reserved for Warriors going to War or Little War.
They were applied by a medicine man not a Tattoo Artist
The bleeding is part of the process to cleanse you before you go to war
This has not been done in many many years

You will not find what you are looking for here, we can only pass on information as for permission
That you will not find here.

[anishtradish]

I would even say it's pretty hard to even ask the elders, because a lot of tribes stopped doing a lot of the body modifications when they started being in contact with the Europeans. Also I think when a lot of tribes started loosing some of there traditional teachings or customs, in an attempt to regain their ways, people borrowed the customs of other tribes, this is especially true with the east coast tribes like the Cherokee. I think it would be pretty dam hard to actually find any genuine information about specific tattoo patterns that actually existed prior to European contact. Though I'm sure some tribes still might have records of tribal customs like tattooing, but since tattoos were almost taboo in the mainstream culture in the past 300 years, I doubt many people, even nowadays that tattoos are becoming part of the mainstream American culture, are really experienced in that knowledge of original tattooing.

Like how some of the tribes out west used to bind their babies foreheads to a board to give them a certain shape. Just a practice that died out, and most likely would be illegal today i'm sure.

I know my own people, the Ojibway, used to have piercings and body tattoos, but this was hundreds of years ago, and even the elders today really wouldn't be able to really give you any more information than the drawings and diary entries from the early missionaries and white trappers who documented things like that. Because even in their early lifetimes a lot of those practices were already long gone generations before them. Seems like when the white people came, they influenced a lot of people out of a lot of traditions, and physical appearance seemed to be one of the first things that changed. we stopped our piercings and tattoos and instead started wearing their cloths and glass beads instead.


but hey, it's 2008. If you want a tattoo go for it, and if you wanna show your pride and heritage through your ink, go ahead and do it, I did. I doubt anyone is really going to walk up to you and say "traditionally we didn't use designs like that" because if they weren't around back then, they don't have any right to say anything to you.

Kinda like how last week another traditional dancer, and older guy walked up to my friend and told him 'traditionally we didn't paint our faces like that", so I had to step in and point out that 'traditionally' we didn't wear bustles, we didn't wear metal bells, or have glass beads, or have velvet vests and so on, and pointed out all this stuff on his regalia that wasn't 'traditional' and he just shut up and walked away. Didn't mean any disrespect to him, but no one has the right really to say something else isn't traditional when they themselves pick and choose what they believe is 'traditional'.

So I guess my point is, just go ahead and get your tats if you feel like it, and don't really worry about what others might think, because a tattoo is something you get on your body and becomes a part of you, and only you have the right to judge that.

[sokoki_wolf]

No decoder rings.... just have to know the right words and say them in the correct order along with the proper movements, gestures.

[Kakeeya]

does your tribe use the magic decoder ring too? j/k

No decoder rings.... just have to know the right words and say them in the correct order along with the proper movements, gestures.

[sokoki_wolf]

You should check with your elders because as I've said many many times, not all Nations are alike. Some don't have tattoos and some do. Mine doesn't allow for tats for specific reasons of which I won't say on here unless you know the secret handshake. L*

does your tribe use the magic decoder ring too? j/k

[Kakeeya]

You should check with your elders because as I've said many many times, not all Nations are alike. Some don't have tattoos and some do. Mine doesn't allow for tats for specific reasons of which I won't say on here unless you know the secret handshake. L*

[sokoki_wolf]

I see the tattoo's all over though. The pictures I posted are from NC but the one on the right I dont know where he is from I got them off yahoo so I do not know the men. Most powwows I go to are in the Ohio area and thats where I see a large number of them at.

im still betting people saw it in last of the mohicans and thought it was cool and started doing it,and now its become common...ive been around for alot of years and have never seen any tat like that on an ndn,im not doubting you at all but i think theyre a recent thing

[ProudNightWolf]

I see the tattoo's all over though. The pictures I posted are from NC but the one on the right I dont know where he is from I got them off yahoo so I do not know the men. Most powwows I go to are in the Ohio area and thats where I see a large number of them at.

[anishtradish]

theres actually new dyes that are semi-permanent too now that tattooists can use, that last only a few years and fade on their own, or are easily removed with certain lasers that really aren't too painful as the ones used for regular tattoo removal. so there is a few different options now.

[New2itall]

Ya know, if ya want some body art for a weekend, there are non-permanent dyes that can be used to achieve the effect. Wode and henna being two of the oldest around. Of course I see plenty of teenagers with non-permanent tats made from ball point pens! Myself, no tats, but I have been had henna applied for a friend's wedding. It was very relaxing. I don't imagine the needles and in being that way.

[Margy]

Here is a pic of those drums I was talking about earlier:



Looks similar to me. Meaning? I have no clue...

[sokoki_wolf]

well,theres a bunch of tats on this site that look the same as the ones PNW is asking about:
TATTOO TANTALIZERS!

scroll down to the bottom of the first page...and theres other pages too....last of the mohicans was filmed in NC and thats where PNW has seen these tats...i wouldnt be surprised if the people he's been seeing them on were extras in the movie and decided to get the tats done permanetly after the movie...
on page 3 ,daniel day lewis has the same kind of tat on his arm.....

[anishtradish]

they look like they could be tats from last of the mohicans,i'll have to watch it again and see if theres any similar...

LOL thats what I was thinking when I seen em.




All my tats are done in Haida and Moari style, but have specific meanings to me and where I come from.

[FluteMaker]

just as a mental note..... a guy being at a cherokee powwow doesnt nessesarily mean hes cherokee. something you could try is asking the guys with the ink. its been my experience that people with ink are usually quite proud of their tats and dont mind too much talking about their work

[ProudNightWolf]

Most look in their early 30's, give or take a few, and older