Here is a video of my final presentation, the sound quality isn’t the greatest but enjoy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnQ393yiKqs&feature=youtu.be I will be attending the Multidisciplinary Undergraduate Research Conference on the University of British Columbia-Vancouver campus on the 16th of March, 2013.

Filed under: Decolonization, Early North American Indigenous Tattoos, Identity, James Teit, Nlaka'pamux (Thompson Indian) Tattooing, Rock Art (Pictograph Research), Skin Stitch Tattooing, Tattoo Revival, Video

The culmination of a summer worth of research has paid off with the sleeping tradition of Nlaka’pamux tattooing awakening to a new generation. These two tattoos were hand tattooed by Dion Kaszas (me) what an amazing experience, being part of this revival has empowered me to continue in my tattoo research.  I believe that all [...]

Filed under: Decolonization, Identity, Nlaka'pamux (Thompson Indian) Tattooing, Tattoo Revival

After a few weeks of sorting through photographs enhancing and being inspired I will post my pictures from the Stein hike with enhancements in my website I will post a few here just to give you a taste.  

Filed under: Decolonization, Rock Art (Pictograph Research)

Well I’m finally leaving for the Stein Valley, one of the most sacred places in our territory. See you all in six days with pictures and stories, maybe even a few dreams:-)

Filed under: Decolonization, Identity, Tattoo Revival

These are pictures of me hand tattooing my first Nlaka’pamux hand tattoo on someone other than myself, this is so awesome. The tattoo design was inspired by the pictographs of the Stein Valley which i will be visiting next week and photographing as many pictographs as possible. The photos were taken by Wes Wilson who does weddings [...]

Filed under: Decolonization, Nlaka'pamux (Thompson Indian) Tattooing, Tattoo Revival, Tattooing by Hand

In preparation for my journey up the stein Valley have been reading the book “They Write Their Dreams on the Rock Forever:Rock Writings in the Stein River Valley of British Columbia” By Annie York, Richard Daley and Christ Arnett. It is an amazing read and has helped me to put the Creation stories I have been reading into the context of the land of our territory. [...]

Filed under: Decolonization, Identity

Last week I spent my time visiting many of the Museums that hold collections of Nlaka’pamux material culture specifically baskets. As I began last week I was thinking that looking at these would be just, inspiration for contemporary tattoo designs. As I walked through the many collections of baskets my heart was awakened to the [...]

Filed under: Decolonization, Identity

While engaged in my research at the Nicola Valley Museum and Archive I searched through many drawers filed with photographs of Indigenous peoples, many of them taken by the anthropologist James Teit. I seen many faces and looked at many examples of our material culture in the form of clothing and baskets. As I looked at the faces of [...]

Filed under: Decolonization, Identity

I have returned from the NVMA in Merritt BC. I was there hunting for primary source documents which show the traditional tattooing of my ancestors the Nlaka’pamux (Thomspon Indians), I did not succeed in fidning any but became acquainted with hands on research, as an undergraduate student I have been blessed with this amazing opportunity [...]

Filed under: Decolonization, Identity, James Teit

As I begin this new leg of my journey I figured the best place to start is by reflection, a brief look at my journey into my studies at the University of British Columbia-Okanagan in Indigenous studies. Why this project? Why this subject? What is my connection to it, and why is it important? My [...]

Filed under: Decolonization, Identity, James Teit, Nlaka'pamux (Thompson Indian) Tattooing, Skin Stitch Tattooing, Tattoo Revival, Tattooing by Hand