My first ever tattoo was done by a friend of mine - she made me feel so safe and cared for. Since then, I work hard to create a safe space for my clients! Tattoos are healing, and I want your tattooing experience to be positive and uplifting.

I get a lot of clients who are getting a tattoo for the first time, and I’m happy to spend some time with you to orient you to the process.

🖤How long have you been tattooing? How did you start tattooing?

I am mostly self-taught, and have been tattooing since 2017. I have a standard first aid and blood borne pathogens training certificate. I started tattooing myself, and eventually started tattooing other people. 

I’ve picked up a lot of knowledge from other tattooers along the way, and learned from trial and error. If I could do it over, I would have tried harder to secure a mentor to help me. Luckily there are many Inuit tattooers now!

🖤 What are you rates/payment?

My rate is $120 per hour plus tax starting with the stencilling onto the skin (if the design takes less than 60 mins. If the design is taking longer than 60 min, I start charging by the hour. And I'll let you know if it's taking longer before I start charging for it). I take a $100 mandatory non-refundable deposit to secure your appointment. Your booking is not final until I receive the deposit. This deposit is credited to your total (eg. 2 hour tattoo = $240, you paid me a $100 deposit, so the amount payable at the end of your tattoo session is $140 :). You can rebook your appointment up to 48 hours (2days) before your appointment. I take cash or e-transfer, invoice via PayPal, or card. The time it takes will depend on the size, placement, and intricacy of the design. I can give you a quote once I see your design and know the dimensions. I do not expect tips - many shops do, because they have many fees that go into working from a shop. I work from home or do home visits so my rates include everything I need.

🖤 Do you tattoo non-Inuit?

Yes, however I will only tattoo the Inuit identity tattoos on Inuit. I am happy to help with other designs. If there are many requests, I will prioritize appointments to Inuit clients and their Inuit identity tattoos. My work is in black ink only, all handpoked.

🖤 Where do you tattoo?

At my home in Ottawa (we have dogs - they will stay in another room while we tattoo. Let me know if you have allergies or are nervous around dogs and we can make alternate arrangements). I am able to travel to your home as well. I request that the space be cleaned and sanitized, and I have clear access to a sink. I will need a table and chair. No smoking in the space I’ll be tattooing.

🖤 What is the design process?

If it’s an Inuit Identity tattoo and someone wants to figure out a design, I direct them to some resources and encourage them to design their own. Some people have a clear idea of the design and dimensions, and others have a rough idea and then I help them finalize it. Sometimes it can be finalized before the session, but most often we figure it out during the session using a mix of digital/stencil/hand drawn techniques.

🖤 Where can I go to learn more about Inuit tattoos?

If you are Inuk, send me an email to tatiggat.ink@gmail.com and I can give you some resources. I am hesitant to share with non-Inuit, because cultural appropriation is rampant. Right now, Inuit are still learning about our markings and what they mean to us. There are some things shared, but ultimately, we are not ready to share them with the world. We need them for healing - this is the meaning of our tattoos for us at this time. Qujannamiik for your respect of this.

🖤 What is hand poke tattooing? Does it hurt more than machine tattoos?

Hand poke tattooing is a technique where the artist holds a needle, dips it in ink, and pierces the skin to deposit the ink just below the epidermis. My set up is the same as a tattoo shop set up, and I only use single use tattoo needles. Inuit used bone needles in the past, but then switched to steel needles when they got them. Now we have industrially made needles specific for tattooing. Hand poking does take longer than machine tattooing, so it may hurt more because it takes longer. You can feel each poke instead of a buzzing pain. Because there are less pokes in hand poked tattooing, there is less trauma to the skin, and therefore less swelling and a shorter healing time. Everyone experiences pain differently, so it is difficult to say how painful it is. Many people I’ve hand poke tattooed said it hurts less than their machine tattoos, but it’s different for everyone.

🖤 How do I book an appointment?

You fill out a tattoo request form, and I get back to you with a time that works, and with follow up questions about your tattoo design. You can ask me more about tattoos or the booking process by email at tatiggat.ink@gmail.com