Yidiiltoo facts for kids
_(20317173116).jpg)
Yidįįłtoo are special face tattoos. They are a very old tradition of the Hän Gwich’in women. The Hän Gwich’in are an indigenous group of people. They live in parts of Alaska and Canada.
Contents
History of Yidįįłtoo
This tradition is very old. It goes back at least 10,000 years. Hän Gwich’in girls traditionally got their first tattoos when they were between 12 and 14 years old. This often happened around the time they became young women.
In the 1800s and 1900s, missionaries came to the area. They stopped many traditional practices, including Yidįįłtoo. But starting in the 2010s, some indigenous girls and women began to bring this important tradition back. They are proud to wear Yidįįłtoo again.
What Yidįįłtoo Look Like
The most common Yidįįłtoo markings are vertical lines. These lines go from the lower lip down to below the chin. A tattoo expert named Lars Krutak says that the width of these lines and the space between them used to show which of the nine Hän Gwich’in groups a girl belonged to.
Sometimes, other markings might be placed on the temples or cheeks. Each tattoo tells a story and connects the person to their heritage.
How Yidįįłtoo Are Made
The traditional way to create Yidįįłtoo is called "stick-and-poke." This method uses needles made from bird bones. Today, some people who create these tattoos use modern tattoo needles. This helps to keep the tradition alive safely.
Famous People with Yidįįłtoo
- Quannah Chasinghorse is a well-known model. She is of Hän Gwich’in and Sicangu Oglala Lakota heritage. Quannah received her first Yidįįłtoo when she was 14 years old. She proudly shares her culture with the world.
Respecting Yidįįłtoo
Sometimes, people who are not indigenous might wear temporary markings. These can be makeup or jewelry that look like Yidįįłtoo. This is called cultural appropriation. It means taking something from another culture without understanding or respecting its deep meaning. For example, Angelina Jolie was criticized for wearing facial jewelry that looked like Yidįįłtoo. It is important to respect these sacred traditions.
See also
