Image from Sacred Ink Courtesy of Antonia Hatch
Native Lens is proud to kick off its 2026 season with a short documentary directed by Diné filmmaker Antonia Hatch. Sacred Ink centers Indigenous tattoo artist Missy Mahan, who speaks on the reclamation of Indigenous tattoos and their vital role in cultural preservation.
Antonia graciously answered a few questions about her experience making the doc, and her goals as an emerging filmmaker:
My name is Antonia Hatch, I am a Diné filmmaker from the Navajo Nation and I’m currently based in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Tell us about the origin of your project – what inspired you to make this film, how did you connect with the tattoo artist, and why a documentary?
Sacred Ink was originally created to be my senior thesis film in order to graduate from the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA). I knew that for my final film at IAIA I wanted something that perfectly encapsulated my personal interests with my Native identity. Growing up I was a very alternative looking person often associated with metal, goth, and emo music subcultures, so I wanted to explore what connected that side of myself with my Native culture. I found that the most identifiable thing about these cultures was tattoos. I ultimately decided to make a documentary on this topic because there was so much historical context that I wanted to be explained through an indigenous woman’s perspective.
How would you describe your practice? Are you primarily a filmmaker, do you work in any other mediums, etc?
I’m primarily a filmmaker above all, but I have explored different artistic mediums such as photography, creative writing and drawing. After years of putting all of my focus into making films I found that it’s important to explore different forms of art in order to fuel the creative drive behind filmmaking.
What did you learn through the process of creating SACRED INK?
Creating Sacred Ink was definitely a brand new challenge for me, especially because I had only made one short documentary prior. I had spent about half a year brainstorming and making my treatment for this documentary and even when it came down to the day of filming I still felt like I was learning new things. This documentary taught me how to keep going through the trials and tribulations. At first I couldn’t find a Native tattoo artist locally who would do an interview with me. It wasn’t until my final deadline for filming was coming up that a good friend of mine told me to reach out to Missy Mahan while she was in town for the Indigenous Tattoo & Music Festival. We spent two whole days with Missy and captured some incredible footage thanks to my crew, but then the real challenge was post-production. Editing the footage was a unique obstacle because not only was it extremely time consuming with a tight deadline, but I also had to carve out this compelling story that was entertaining and cohesive for an audience.
What do you hope viewers will take away from watching your film?
I hope those who watch Sacred Ink find something to resonate with whether it be culturally or artistically. I say that this film is a love letter to the alternative indigenous people who may look different, and that our personal style can coexist with our cultural identity. Tattoos have often been looked down upon especially due to colonization, but this practice has existed for hundreds of years and it has always defined our visual identity and is a significant form of visual storytelling.
What excites you about Native film?
Native film is definitely entering a golden age and I am so excited to see the influx of new films coming out from Native communities. I’m really happy to see our communities work together to make films and encourage one another to tell their stories whether it be through comedy, romance, drama and even animated films. Storytelling is one of our most important traditions as Native people and filmmaking is such a bonding experience that I hope more of our people embrace these mediums to share their voice.
What’s next for you – do you have any upcoming projects, or anything about you on the horizon that people can be looking out for?
Right now I am still working in film, I love to help out on indie sets and enjoy gaffing whenever I can. My next project will be another documentary focused on local businesses and artists that are a big contributor to sustaining the community.
Anything else you would like to share about this film, your work or your community?
I would love to continue making films similar to Sacred Ink and I want to keep representing my Native community, especially the community members with alternative styles. Their creativity and unique self-expression is what keeps us loving and enduring as people. I want to use my creative skills to show the world the many facets of indigenous life that exist.
