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10.1: Reading- The Significance of Tattoos

  • Page ID
    104471
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    Before You Read

    Go to the internet and search for Justin Trudeau’s tattoo. Find a picture of the tattoo, then answer the following questions.

    1.      What can you see in Trudeau’s tattoo?

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    2.      Do you like it or dislike it? Why?

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    3.      Why do you think some people might be upset by it?

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    The Reading

    Read the article below and answer the questions that follow.

    1           Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s appearance attracts as much attention as his fiscal and foreign policies—and maybe more. While Trudeau’s dark, wavy hair and muscular physique are often remarked upon favourably, reaction to the large tattoo adorning his left arm has been less positive. Trudeau’s body art is the planet Earth surrounded by a raven, a symbol of the Haida people of northwestern British Columbia. It is actually two tattoos: he got the planet inked at age 23 and added the Haida raven as a fortieth birthday present, shortly before he became leader of the Liberal Party. While Trudeau’s body art has been admired and has led to speculation about whether or not he is the only world leader with a tattoo, it has also attracted some controversy. Does Trudeau, a white Canadian, have the right to display Indigenous art on his body, or is his tattoo a form of cultural appropriation?

    clipboard_eb25d6bb335aac3903e08efee224ab405.png

    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Justin Trudeau’s appearance often attracts as much attention as his policies. (CC Wikimedia Commons)

    Justin Trudeau’s appearance often attracts as much attention as his policies.

    2           Tattoos are a growing trend in Canada. Today, 21% of Canadians have at least one tattoo, with the number rising to 36% among people 20 to 31 years of age. The most common locations for men are the back, chest, arms and legs; among women, the ankles are also popular. However, despite the popularity of TV shows like Miami Ink and LA Ink, body inking did not originate in North America. In the islands of the South Pacific, tattooing has long been a rite of passage. In a 2,000-year-old coming-of-age ritual, men on the island of Samoa receive the traditional pe’a design, an intricate geometrical design in black ink, which extends from their torso to their knees. Each tattoo is different, telling stories about the recipient’s ancestry and social status. Samoan women may also receive a lighter, less extensive version of the pe’a. In Thailand, a tattoo received from a Buddhist monk is believed to act as an amulet, giving the wearer both strength and protection from the spirit world. Even in the Middle East, where tattooing has traditionally been frowned upon, it is becoming more common today to ink oneself with spiritual phrases and imagery.

    clipboard_e6e5fe4d7fcd193f279bcf96e65d4e626.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): An intricate design from the South Pacific polynesian turtle tattoo (CC flikr Micael Faccio)

    3           For most Canadians, tattoos do not necessarily have spiritual significance, but they do symbolize solidarity with, or loyalty to, a particular group; as such, a tattoo can provide a sense of identity. A hockey fan from Vancouver may have the logo of the Vancouver Canucks on his bicep, while his girlfriend might have the symbol of her zodiac sign on her ankle. In both cases, the wearer of the tattoo is saying, “This is who I am. This is my group. This is my identity.”

    4           Other reasons for getting inked include celebration of a significant event or commemoration of the life of someone who has passed away. A new mother may have her child’s name tattooed on her wrist, while someone whose grandmother has passed away might have Granny’s favourite flower permanently displayed on her shoulder. In these cases, tattooing is a unique and respectful way to celebrate the tattoo wearer’s loved ones. 

    5           However, not everyone has jumped on the tattooing bandwagon. Some people think tattoos are ugly, reminiscent of underworld gangs and the criminal element of society. “Why on earth did you do that?” parents scream in horror to their teenaged sons and daughters. “Now you’ll never get a good job!” It is true that some impulsive tattoo recipients regret the day their friends talked them into getting a cartoon character or the Chinese symbol for “happiness” permanently inked on their biceps or ankle. And what happens if, in a moment of apparent insanity, you get the name of your current heartthrob tattooed on your forearm, only to find that the ink lasts longer than the relationship?

    6           In the case of Justin Trudeau’s tattoo, it is the use of the Haida raven that causes discomfort. The design itself is a copy of a 1985 painting by Haida artist Robert Davidson (or Guud San Glans, “Eagle of the Dawn”), recognized as one of the leading Haida artists in B.C. Trudeau has a connection with the Haida, as his father, former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, was declared an honorary member of the Haida in 1976. Justin himself studied at the University of British Columbia and worked as a teacher in Vancouver before going into politics. It is true, on the one hand, that Trudeau’s tattoo serves to legitimize Haida painting as an art form and to draw attention to it. On the other hand, given that tattooing is a powerful expression of cultural identity, and Trudeau’s policies have not been welcomed with open arms by the Haida people, his tattoo has been seen as disrespectful.

    7           At the heart of the controversy lies the fact that decisions taken by the Trudeau government are seen to negatively affect the Haida. Most seriously, in 2016, the Trudeau government approved the construction of the Petronas liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal at Lelu Island near Prince Rupert. This project will enable vast quantities of LNG to be processed in B.C. before being shipped to Asia. The $36-billion project will be situated near the breeding grounds of one of B.C.’s largest salmon runs. The Haida—along with other First Nations communities in B.C.—are strongly opposed to the project and are angry at the decision. The Haida are equally angry at another controversial move by the Trudeau government: the decision to allow the Site C dam to go ahead before the Federal Court of Appeal has ruled on treaty rights. This project will flood a stretch of the Peace River Valley, destroying ancient burial grounds and sacred sites.

    8           For all Canadians, from Justin Trudeau to the guy next door, getting inked is not a decision to take lightly. While tattoos may not have the spiritual significance they had for the ancient Pacific islanders, they are still powerful symbols of personal identity. The bearer of a tattoo needs to keep this in mind before committing to the design.

     

    Questions

    A.   Check Your Understanding

    Answer the following questions in your own words.

    1.      What is the main idea of this article?

    a)     Getting a tattoo is not a decision to take lightly.

    b)     People get tattoos for many different reasons.

    c)      Justin Trudeau’s tattoo is disrespectful to the Haida.

    d)     Tattoos are not a modern invention.

     

    2.      Name three parts of the world where tattoos have cultural or religious significance.

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    3.      Why do Canadians often get tattoos? Give three main reasons.

    a)     ______________________________________________________________________

    b)     ______________________________________________________________________

    c)      ______________________________________________________________________

     

    4.      Why might some people regret getting their tattoos?

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    5.      What do you understand by the term cultural appropriation?

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    6.      In your own words, summarize the controversy surrounding Justin Trudeau’s tattoo.

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    B.   Develop Your Vocabulary

    Find a word or expression in the reading that means the following. Paragraph numbers are given to help you.

    1.      related to government spending (para. 1)      _________________________ (adjective)

    2.      decorating (para. 1)                                        _________________________ (verb)

    3.      the act of questioning (para. 1)                      _________________________ (noun)

    4.      begin (para. 2)                                                _________________________ (verb)

    5.      ceremony to mark a change of status (para. 2)      _________________________ (noun)

    6.      item worn to protect from bad luck (para. 2)      _________________________ (noun)

    7.      reminding someone of something (para. 5)      _________________________ (adjective)

    8.      acting without thinking carefully (para. 5)       _________________________ (adjective)

    9.      give status to something (para. 6)                  _________________________ (verb)

    10.  treated as a real member of a group (para. 6)      _________________________ (adjective)

     

    Choose five of the words above. Write a sentence of your own using each word.

    1.      ________________________________________________________________________

    2.      ________________________________________________________________________

    3.      ________________________________________________________________________

    4.      ________________________________________________________________________

    5.      ________________________________________________________________________

     

    C.   Think about It

    Think about the following questions. Write your thoughts.

    1.      Do you have a tattoo? If so, what does your tattoo signify? Why did you choose the design? If you do not have a tattoo, why not?

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    2.      Do you agree that Justin Trudeau’s tattoo is a form of cultural appropriation? Explain your thoughts on this issue.

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    3.      Can you think of anything else besides tattoos that might be considered a form of cultural appropriation?

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    4.      How do you think Haida artist Robert Davidson might have responded to this controversy? (After you answer this question, do an internet search and find out what he actually said.)

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    D.   Go Further

     

    Interview someone (a friend, relative, or classmate) who has a tattoo. Find out the following:

    • What the tattoo represents
    • Why the person decided to get the tattoo
    • When the person got the tattoo
    • How other people have reacted to the tattoo
    • How the person feels about the tattoo now: proud, satisfied, regretful, or something else

    Write your findings in the space below, and report back to your class.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     


    10.1: Reading- The Significance of Tattoos is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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