Ancestral Skin Marking

The way I practice Skin Marking is about remaining connected to collective Ancestral past in this time, in the present, while we continue toward our futures together. I value being—who we want to be and that we want to be.

I forever thank my mentors: Dion Kaszas, Keith Callihoo, and Jerry Evans and all of the Skin Markers I walk alongside.

Skin Marking and textiles are two things that drape the people in meaning—they are two world and identity building practices that present ourselves as we are and as we wish to be. It’s an honour to be a Weaver and Skin Marking practitioner; I’m a beginner and am stepping in to the role.

I’ll open up my books and will be sharing Skin Marking sessions starting in January 02026.

To book a session, please fill out a booking inquiry form, talk about your ancestry and ideas for your marking. You can read the information below to get ready for your session and you can always contact me too. But first, read on, there might be some answers below to questions you have!

Names

Please include the names you use

First Name

Last Name

What are your pronouns?

Are you over 19?

According to the Personal Services Act and Regulation in the colonial province of Newfoundland & Labrador practitioners are prohibited from offering tattooing and body piercing services to anyone under the age of 16 without parental consent. In accordance with Ancestral practices and guidance I will work with Youth and their guardians to create a marking as long as there is full participation, presence, and support from all guardians.

What is the best way to contact you?

Please include your email, phone number, or preferred method of contact. *Please note that I do not communicate through social medias*

Where are you located?

You can include the name of your community and GPS points.

Will you travel to Katalisk for a marking, or are you requesting for me to travel to your community?

Katalisk

Travel to my community

Please list 3 dates that you would like to book a session and indicate where you would like to work (ie: in Katalisk in my studio, in your community and where, at an outdoor location important to you).

I will do my best to balance my availability with your requested times, but understand that I might not be available. If your session inquiry is accepted, we will work together to book a session.

Are you interested in an on-farm marking session?.

If yes, please include any food or environmental allergies. Megan will have extra questions for you if you have a further consultation.

Is your mark an Ancestral Marking?

If yes, please talk more about that.

Have you received an Ancestral Marking before?

What kind of marking do you want?

Please take your time here, include colours, size, design thoughts, night dreams, or stories. You can upload images below if you wish.

Does your marking include skin stitching?

Where on your body would you like a marking?

Is there anything else you want to add or talk about? Do you have any questions?

FAQ

How did you learn to mark?

I received my first western style tattoo when I was 13 and have received both western tattoos and Ancestral Markings on a regular basis since then (25+ years!). In 02021 I began working with one of my mentors Dion Kaszas on large scaled customary and Ancestral Markings that reflect my identity and journey. The experience of receiving my markings is continually spiritually, intellectually, and physically moving. It’s a real honour to be simultaneously a witness, a participant, and to embody my marks.

I have learned through consistent long-term observation and through formal, hands-on training with my mentors: Dion Kaszas, Keith Callihoo, and Jerry Evans. I have mentored in hand push (often called hand poke) and skin stitching methods.

What is skin stitch? What is hand push marking?

Hand push tattooing is also, maybe more commonly, called hand-poke or stick-and-poke. When I was apprenticing we watched a documentary about Indigenous Skin Marking practices and the practitioner referred to the technique as hand push. The way of referring to making skin markings landed with me and felt more accurate to the technique and experience where the needle is pushing ink into the skin, and the words simply sounded better in my mouth. Hand push marks are made with a variety of tattoo needle sizes and tattoo ink.

Skin stitching is to make marks in the skin with a sterilized needle and thread, and ink. The needle enters the dermis with ink embedded in the thread. As the needle exits the skin it leaves ink in the channel created by the stitch.

Skin stitch markings are reserved for Indigenous People and their relations; I will always hold up and prioritize Indigenous people.

I purchase most of my supplies from Eikon Tattoo Supplies and autoclaved, sterilized stitch supplies from Amy Malbeuf.

Why do you say Skin Marking and not tattooing?

I don’t think that the word tattoo references exactly what we do as Ancestral practitioners and cultural carriers. The word tattoo is an anglicization and colonized version of the Samoan and Tahitian word tatau. I honour and respect the word tatau and hold up Polynesian practitioners who are doing the word of carrying their culture and practices of tapping ink into skin. I use the word Skin Marking for Indigenous Skin Markers who are part of the revival of making permanent skin markings that are about our identities and which make us visible as we’re meant to be. Our markings are a connected to our spirit(s) and our land(s), our markings are reminders to colonial society that we are here and we’re whole, as we’re meant to be; our markings are signals to our kin that we’re here and we’re whole, and we’re meant to be. Our markings are reminders to treaty partners, colonizers, and those that continue in the erasure of Indigenous presence and identity that we will not be erased. Markings are intentional, they are permanent for a lifetime, and they’re deliberate.

I use the word tattoo for western practices.

Do you do facial markings?

Yes. Facial markings are reserved only for Indigenous people; I will always hold up and prioritize Indigenous people.

Do you make Skin Markings for Youth?

In my cultural practice our custom is to receive our first markings as Youth, at comings of age throughout life, and as they come to us in our dreams. I believe that my responsibility as an Ancestral Skin Marker is to help carry forward our customs and to hold them with respect while asserting our presence and our ways-of-being. I am comfortable making marks for Youth while in accordance with the colonial provinces Personal Services Act and Regulation. I insist on the full support, consent, and presence from all of the Youths guardians.

Youth markings are reserved only for Indigenous Youth.

What are your safety protocols?

As an Ancestral Skin Marker, an Nlha7kápmx and L’nu person, I prioritize doing no harm, not interfering, and in the protection of our communities. In order to follow these protocols in my marking practice I’ve completed Blood Borne Pathogens, Standard First Aid, and Mental Health First Aid and I keep the certifications up to date. I insist on sterile tools and surfaces; single-use needles, barriers, and gloves; safe disposal of sharps; and the use of high industry standard marking and medical grade materials. I maintain strong communication and contact with my mentors and peers so that I can best answer questions or circumstances that I’m inexperienced in.

To maintain spirit and spatial safety, I offer smudge and ochre ceremony before a marking session. You do not have to participate, but I will always offer and take this time for myself before we work. If it’s your practice, please arrive with medicines to offer.

Marking space, wherever that is, is a sacred one; marking and making space is cultural revival and inclusion and safety for everyone wherever they are on their journey is a critically important part of the work. I maintain and insist on protected space for all abilities, genders, ancestral and cultural backgrounds.

Will I tattoo non-Indigenous people?

Yes, you bet. If you’re not Indigenous and you come to me requesting an ancestral mark, know that I’m truly honoured. We can work together to research and design a piece that reflects your identity, ancestry, culture, and visual language. We can work together to design a mark for you while holding in mind that I work from my customary practices and ancestral visual languages that I will gift to you. If you’re committed in to an Indigenous family and/or community then we can work with the motifs and visual language of your family.

Sometimes people ask if I will mark white people—the answer is yes, see above.

How do I book an appointment?

Please fill out the Booking Inquiry Form and be as detailed as possible; be patient with my capacity to respond. If your request for a session is accepted, Megan will contact you to arrange a session time, location, and to talk more about your marking.

How much does a marking session cost?

Rates are $150 per hour per session which is payable with cash, emt, debit, or major credit cards. One touch up session is included and if you want assistance removing bandaging, that’s included too! I’m open to and accustomed to trading. Please check out THIS living list that I revisit and update regularly to see what are acceptable trade goods. Please note that I don’t start billing until you show up for your session, and I don’t start setting up until you arrive. Set-up time will be billed for.

If you are staying in Katalisk on Megans farm, Tuckaway, the flat rate for a session is $1500; you can read more about Tuckaway and accommodations here. This includes one night accommodations, two meals from the farm, a marking session up to 5 hours (including set-up), and medicines to take home with you (salve and sea water soap). Additional nights accommodation can be arranged, just make sure to indicate that in your booking form and to discuss!

How do I prepare for a session?

I’ve drafted a longer version of pre-care that I’ll share with you before a booking, but in short and in order to prepare before you commit to a session, these are the basics:

ensure that you’re hydrated in the days before your marking. Drink lots of water and hydrating fluids. Bring water and/or electrolytes with you to your session
ensure that you’ve eaten enough in the days before your marking. Nourish your body and maintain your blood sugars
if you wish, you can exfoliate the area the day before as well
if possible, don’t consume alcohol or recreational substances in the days before your session. Do not arrive to your session after consuming substances, your session time will not go forward and you will be billed for the booking
get enough rest, whatever that amount means to you
make sure to eat before your session. Bring snacks with you as well as a couple of high sugar things–fruit, a chocolate or candy you like
stay out of the sun in the days before your session and avoid a sunburn. Moisturize your skin with a light unscented product the day before, as well as in the morning of your session
take note of your dreams

What are your aftercare suggestions?

I’ve drafted a longer version of after-care that I’ll share with you before a booking. Remember that the permanent and best outcome of your tattoo relies on how you care for it and yourself. Do your best, closely follow the above recommendations, and don’t hesitate to contact the practitioner by phone or email with any questions or concerns.

In short and in order to prepare before you commit to a session, these are the basics:

you may remove bandaging after 3 hours and rinse your skin with clean water. Gently remove any dried blood, ink, fluid. Do not re-bandage.

gently wash your marking 4 times per day for the next 3 days.
after the 3rd day, apply a small amount of a good quality unscented moisturizer or salve a few times a day to promote healing and prevent the tattoo from drying out and scabbing.

remember, certain products work well for some people, but not for others. Be aware of your own skin conditions and bodily preferences - always do a test spot with product on a small area of your unmarked skin and observe how your skin reacts. If there is no reaction, do a test spot on a small area of your marking and observe before applying it to the entire mark.
stop using product when you notice increased redness, stinging, or discomfort of any kind! If your tattoo weeps or appears runny - this is not normal! These are examples of signs to a reaction to the product. Wash your hands and your marking immediately with mild soap and water and contact your care provider(s) and me.

using moisturizing product on your tattoo is to prevent the mark from drying out. Do not use in excess. Excessive use could cause the colour to fade.
sun exposure will fade your mark at any time after healing - always use SPF30 (healed tattoos only).
do not soak your healing mark in a hot tub, pool, bathtub, lake, sauna, or other body of water for at least 2 weeks. It is recommended to get your tattoo briefly wet in the shower while cleaning.
your new marking may be itchy. Do not pick any scabs or scratch your healing tattoo - this will cause scarring.
do not allow clothing or bedding to rub, irritate, or stick to your healing tattoo. This will cause inflammation, it may cause scarring and scabbing, and it will interfere with healing.
drink lots of water, stay nourished and rested while healing.

Why didn’t you accept my session inquiry?

Know that when I say no to a request, it doesn’t mean never.

There are a lot of reasons that I didn’t accept your inquiry. Some of the most common reasons are that the marking requested isn’t in my time or expertise capacity (I don’t make machine Skin Markings yet); the request wasn’t appropriate within the context of my practice or time availability; it may have been that the person requesting the permanent mark indicated that they weren’t ready for the responsibility and relationship to carry the marks. If you wish to talk through why your inquiry wasn’t accepted or acknowledge at this time, you can request a 15 minute meeting to talk it through.