Nordic Week 2026, Day 2 - History
Day 2 is here! Whilst I had originally hoped to do something else for today, I had to switch somewhat last minute. Still, I wanted to keep the Nordic the same, so here we have miss Greenland, showing off her Kakiorneq/Kagierneq.
Kakiorneq refers to the traditional inuit tattoos found in Greenland. Historically speaking, Kakiorneq were usually given to women, by other women (usually a seamstress). Each kakiorneq had its own meaning behind it, and usually they were given once a young woman had honed important skills.
Tunniit refers to Kakiorneq on a woman's face. Historically, the Talloqut (chin lines) were usually the first tunniit a girl would receive. This would've usually been around when puberty started, but if a girl mastered skills earlier or later, the Talloqut would be given earlier or later. I personally headcanon Nivi got her Talloqut earlier on in her physical development, as she would've had to learn survival tactics like fishing or hunting very young.
The lines she has on her fingers are to honour Sedna, the Inuk goddess of the sea, to ensure a successful catch.
As one may suspect, with Danish recolonisation of Greenland. Kakiorneq stopped being practised among Greenlanders. However, it has been seeing a slow and gradual resurrection, although the practice is still vulnerable.
The revival of Tunniit saw Nivi get her final ones, the three dots by her eyes. One dot per each improvement in Greenland's global status. From the county period that began in the 1950s, the home rule period that began in the 1970s, and finally the current self-autonomous status that Greenland was given in 2008.
In my drawing, I decided to have a young child version of Nivi looking back at her, before she got her tunniit, to reflect how kakiorneq often symbolised a girl's maturity and responsibility. Also, to be honest, it also just made the picture look more clearly history inspired.
