Nisga'a Artist Nakkita Trimble features 'Re-awakening Indigenous Tattos'
The Nisga’a Museum is currently showcasing the temporary exhibit: “Reawakening Indigenous Tattoos” by Nisga’a artist/youth Nakkita Trimble.
Nakkita’s Nisga’a name is Algaxhl Gwilksk’alt’amtkw, which translates to speaking through her art. Her ayukws is the Ganaaw or frog, and she is from the House of, or Wilps Axdii Wil Luu-Gooda. Her family is maternally from Gingolx. Nakkita’s great grandparents are Rose (Gurney) and Christopher Trimble. Rose and Chris were one of the last arranged marriages in Gingolx. Nakkita was born and raised in Prince Rupert, British Columbia. She graduated from Prince Rupert Secondary School June 2005, and began her art education September 2007. Her tattooing career began in 2012 and progressed into reviving traditional coastal gihlee’e as a means to reawakening the Nisga’a tattooing art form in her nation. Driven by her passion to learn more about Nisga’a art and culture, Nakkita worked with Nisga’a Elders and undertook research to learn about and identify the significance of traditional Nisga’a tattoos. This exhibit is an opportunity for Nakkita to share with her people what she has learned. To accompany this exhibit, Nakkita has completed an interview with Nisga’a Elder Freda Morven which enlightens us with Freda’s recollection of her Aunt Jane Peal’s traditional Nisga’a tattoo. Her Aunt’s Sigidim-nak’ name was K’am ïii-Lihlks from the Wilp of Ksdiyaawak. The interview will be shown in the Nisga’a Museum media room to accompany the artist’s exhibit. This exhibit is made possible through a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts and the First People’s Council for which the artist applied and succeeded in obtaining. The exhibit is currently on display at the Nisga’a Museum from October to December 2015.
In addition to the exhibit Nakkita will be sharing her findings by providing lectures in each respective Nisga’a community on the following dates:
Gingolx Monday November 9th, 2015 (7-9pm) Church Army
Laxgalts’ap Tuesday November 10th, 2015 (7-9pm) Laxgalt’sap Community Centre Cafeteria
Gitwinksihlkw Thursday November 12, 2015 (7-9pm) Gitwinksihlkw Village Government Board Room
Gitlaxt’aamiks Friday November 13, 2015 (7-9pm) Gitlaxt’aamiks Village Government Wolf Room