Inchunwa Project

Inchunwa is a community-rooted project that seeks to use the revitalization of traditional southeastern tattoos as a catalyst for healing in our southeastern (Choctaw, Chickasaw, Cherokee, Mvskoke, Houma, Seminole, etc) tribal nations and communities. To be marked, branded, or tattooed in the Choctaw and Chickasaw languages is Inchunwa. Inchunwa as a project began in 2018. A group of Choctaw women and 2SLGBTQ+ came together to explore what are traditional Choctaw and Southeastern traditional tattoos. However, this project evolved into a wider scope. That same year the Sovereign Bodies Institute began its support of the project. We understand that revitalization happens minimally in three phases: research, apprenticeship, and then making traditional tattoos available to the community. Presently we have a podcast called Inchunwa where we share the research we've done as well as speak to folks in our communities regarding the revitalization of southeastern traditional tattoos. The Inchunwa podcast is available on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and Stitcher.