Tattoo artist holds free event for Mtis frontline workers in Regina

People at the Midnight Oil Tattoo Shop in Regina last Sunday showed their Mtispride through infinity symbols on hats andshirts,the Mtis sash, and in new tattoos.

They came to the Wahkotowin Tattoo Gatheringto be tattooed for free with a symbol that represents their Mtis heritage.

Tattoo artist Nolan Malbeuf, who is Cree-Mtis from Beauval, Sask.,said he loves tattooing flowersbecause there's a resilience and fight in them that resonates with him.

"You put a cultural symbol on somebody, you're reinforcing that, heyman, we're still here," he said.

Malbeuf wasat a tattoo convention in Toronto in August whenhe realized how grateful he was to be doing what he doesand decided he wanted to give back the only way he knew how through his art.

And when he decided he wanted to give back, he wanted to think big.

"You think big and it scares youthat's where you should be," said Malbeuf.

At Sunday's event, 87 people got tattoos and12 tattoo artists and 10 volunteers were enlisted to help.

Malbeuf said he never knew he was going to be an artist, but when he got sober two years ago, something "came alive" inside him.

"I have been living a life I've never lived before and that's enabled me to see more clearly and to appreciate my people," he said.

Malbeuf said he believes in the power of tattoos, sincethey were once outlawed in the Indian Act'sPotlatch Ban, along with otherrites and rituals.

For some Mtis people, there is a narrative that they are "less than,"the forgotten people and the road allowance people.

"I want them to walk away with a sense of pride," said Malbeuf.

WATCH |Tattoo artist holds event celebratingMtis:

Regina artist offering free tattoos for 100 Mtis front-line workers

6 hours ago

Duration 1:55

Nolan Malbeurf says he wants to show appreciation to the people working to help those facing addictions. The Regina artist is offering free tattoos for 100 Mtis front-line workers.

Sentilla Bubb, a Grade 7 teacher, said having space just for the Mtis people was long overdue.

"It's empowering, it's healing and there's lots of prayers that go into tattooing, so it's really important that we can reclaim this part of our identity," said Bubb.

Shana Cardinal, a mental health therapist, got a floral design featuring two strawberries, one to represent her daughter and one to represent herself.

She saidexpressing yourself and having some of your culture identified on your body was important.

"My daughter, who's also here, says it's her therapy," she said.

"Even though I'm a mental health therapist, it's my therapy."