EPISODE 2 – New Mexico
Trailer
Episode 2
New Mexico
Written and directed by Angie-Pepper O'Bomsawin
Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, Stephanie Big Eagle grew up astray from her identity. She reconnected with her culture when she rekindled relationships in her home community, the Yankton Sioux Reservation in South Dakota. She immersed herself in the fight for aboriginal rights and became a prominent figure in the Dakota pipeline protests, where her thunder hawk hand poke design became a symbol of the standoff. Stephanie found her calling as an environmental and Indigenous activist and full-time hand poke tattoo artist. She sees the revitalization of hand poke as a gift to be offered with love, gratitude, and respect, particularly for the ancestors.
Biography

Stephanie Big Eagle
Stephanie Big Eagle is a traditional hand poke tattoo artist. She utilizes both traditional and modern designs on her clients to activate their energy, protect their spirit, and honour their accomplishments and heritage. She often weaves Indigenous activism into her designs to directly support Indigenous rights movements and their efforts to protect the earth. Stephanie has Dakota and Lakota Sioux, Mohawk, Norse, Inuit, Mongolian, Papua New Guinean, and Irish ancestors. The planetary energy that comes from this diverse heritage is reflected in her tattoo style.