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WHO ARE WE?

Hemlock Tattoo is a women-owned tattoo shop located in Mohkinstsis, Treaty Seven Territory, aka "Calgary, AB" by Taylor Hudson, Janeen Scott, Geneva Haley and Marlee Watts.  

 

We built Hemlock with our values at the forefront of every decision and with an emphasis on creating high-quality work in an intentional environment. Our goal has always been to cultivate trust with our clients and to always engage with improving and adapting our practice. Recognizing our privilege as tattooers, we use our platform to create a space that promotes open communication and consent within the tattoo industry.

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From its inception, Hemlock has accessed education that has guided our practice of trauma-informed care and consent-based tattooing in order to create a comfortable and accountable space for any who chose to enter. From booking in, to waiver content, to care before, during and after a tattoo, we strive to offer a mindful, compassionate and intentional experience that prioritizes the comfort levels of both clients and staff throughout the entire process.

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We have a genuine dedication to implementing concrete, tangible measures to reflect our values. These measures include but aren’t limited to ongoing education related to safe tattooing protocols, consent practices, transparent public policies, conduct protocols, and avenues to submit feedback. Through these initiatives, our clients can have peace of mind knowing that their safety and comfort remain our foremost priority when they chose to book in with any of our artists.

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Hemlock Tattoo would like to acknowledge our location and role to play within the traditional territories of the people of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta, which includes: The Blackfoot Confederacy (comprising the Siksika, Piikani, and Kainai First Nations), the Tsuut’ina First Nation, the Stoney Nakoda (including the Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Wesley First Nations), and the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region III. We want to express our deep gratitude for the people of these nations for caring for the land and all the sacrifices they have made in doing so.

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We want to acknowledge our privileged position to be operating on this extremely abundant land and to recognize that ALL people residing here are Treaty 7 people. In the spirit of acknowledging this history we want to conduct ourselves in a way that honours the Seven Teachings of the Blackfoot, Cree, and Ojibwe people. These teachings are comprised of courage, honesty, humility, love, respect, truth and wisdom and they perfectly encompass how we wish to operate and share space in Treaty 7 territory. 

We also want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the indigenous origins and history of tattooing in North America as well as in a wider global context. Our modern western understanding of tattooing barely passes a glance at the deep, symbolic and sacred roots tattooing has in indigenous cultures. As a team we want to participate in changing this via the dissemination of information/education and supporting those who are working to revive and protect the ancestral tattoo techniques, motifs and patterns that colonialism sought to erase.

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Thank you to Cheryle Chagnon-Greyeyes for her warmth, wisdom and guidance and to all future educators and experts for sharing their knowledge with us. We want to commit ourselves to continuing to amplify voices and seeking out the expertise of the historical stewards of this land we call home.

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-Hemlock Tattoo

©2024 Hemlock Tattoo Studio. Created by the Bread & Butter Club.

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