Tattoo 34 Blog.
Two Worlds
That hit me and reminded me of tattoos that Toby did on our good friend Cinnamon Kills First @cinnamonkillsfirst - a word warrior dedicated to facing hard truths in order to bring about change. He tattooed “Resist” on the inside of one wrist and “Rest” on the other. For her to see. To remember we all need both.
Indigenous Peoples Day 2023
This image is my twin sister and I in our ceremonial dresses we made ourselves using the materials and teachings our parents worked to learn with and for us. We were in high school in this picture and now we have and continue to work with our own daughters on their personal prayer items to use in our ceremony. We have that responsibility. We want every generation to grow more than the last, so we can all find our way home.
Social Media is not Indigenous
Social Media is not Indigenous. After being away for our tribal ceremony all summer, getting back on social media is the hardest thing for me to do for our business. The focus when I am home on my Karuk ancestral lands is preparing for and participating in my tribal ceremony. The pace is slower, the work is physical and spiritual. The emphasis is on who we are and what we are doing for ourselves, our children and our people.
NDN Country is small
while she waited and got tattooed we talked and talked and also just sat together, enjoying being in a space with someone whose ancestors knew our own, this far from our homelands, feeling the warmth of knowing and connection. It was a good day to be Indigenous :)
Coming out of the pandemic
The pandemic allowed me to retreat though, into myself, my family and my home…. Not a bad thing, I’ve learned and grown a lot! Toby and I have changed our lives for the better. Our children are awesome human beings that are easy to be around (mostly) ☺️ but sometimes I feel like I no longer know how to exist in the bigger world and be seen.
There were no addictions among Tribal people prior to colonization
I am so proud of who I am and where I came from as a Karuk person. I had the privilege of growing up on my land, learning my language and participating in my ceremonies. I had that privilege because colonizer contact with my Tribal people was not until around 1850.
Where we started
I took this picture of Toby and printed it in a darkroom, way back when... we have grown and changed but some things have stayed the same: Toby has always used his artistic ability to work for himself and others: painting, designing, sculpting, etc. I have started and organized my own and others businesses using my creativity and admin skills.
California Indian Day 2019
Last year she wore her cap and was made fun of by other kids and an adult made a rude comment. Instead of any number of things she could have done, Tasia asked me to come to her class to do a presentation and educate about who we are as Karuk people and what a basket cap is. I did and Tasia helped me. We talked to all of the kids in her grade at the school.
About the author
Nisha Supahan is a wife, mother and business owner. She is an enrolled member of the Karuk Tribe and is from the traditional villages of Vúpamm, Ka’tim’îin, and Ameekyáaraam. Nisha is active in her culture and teachings and holds a leadership role in her Tribal ceremony that she attends with her family every summer. She grew up on her ancestral land located on the Klamath River in very northern California, until she left for college in Oregon where she earned her bachelors degree in Communication and a certificate in Native American Studies.
Nisha moved to Portland as an adult to take care of her elderly Grandmother Carmen who was a life long Oregon resident.
Nisha and her husband Toby Linwood has owned Tattoo 34 on Hawthorne since 2016. It is a Indigenous and Black owned tattoo shop in Portland, OR. They are a community minded tattoo shop that believes in the power of art, culture, youth and community. The tattoo shop gives time and dollars to non-profits, youth programs and organizations that help their local community.
Nisha raises her children, runs the tattoo shop and is involved with the small business (and Native business) community here in Portland. She is currently on the nonprofit board for the Portland Forest School, on the Site Counsel at McDaniel High School and is on the community team for CenterMom, a solution for preventing postpartum depression.