1967 Inuit Tattoo Artistry AK Postcard

Step back in time with this captivating vintage postcard from 1967, featuring Indigenous Eskimo women adorned with traditional face tattoos. Notice the three lines under the chin of the woman on the left, which were part of a ceremony indicating she was old enough to marry. The animal tattoo on the cheek of the woman on the right most likely represents her power animal, symbolizing her connection to nature. These tattoos, known as Kakiniit, are traditional among the Inuit of the North American Arctic and are almost exclusively done by women on other women. Facial tattoos, or tunniit, mark a woman’s transition to adulthood and carry unique symbolic meanings.