Nestled at the southern end of Hennepin Avenue in South Uptown are Iktomi Tattoo and Art Shelf. Both are run by Willard Malebear Jr., a Lakota tattoo artist in recovery, who is also behind this weekend’s Mni Sota Akitho Festival in St. Paul.  

Iktomi Tattoo is filled with tattoo artists who are sober. Art Shelf, a community art space with free art materials, is a respite for anyone looking to find medicine in art, but especially for those in recovery.

“We’re spiritually drawn to serving people in recovery,” Malebear said.

Malebear opened Iktomi Tattoo in 2024 after being released from prison, where he made a commitment to sobriety and his Indigenous culture.

A visit to an Indigenous tattoo festival that travels to Arizona and New Mexico inspired him to create something similar in Minnesota.

The Akitho Festival (pronounced ah-kee-toe, meaning tattoo in contemporary Dakota language) will bring together tattoo artists, performers, and vendors that “honor the artistry, resilience, and cultural heritage of Indigenous communities.”  The festival will be held at the InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront Hotel, owned by the Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures, March 14-March 16.  

The 2025 Mni Sota Akitho Festival flyer. Image courtesy of Field Guild Inc.

Malebear said he was looking for something to do culturally that went beyond a powwow.

“We have a lot of traditional setting community gatherings,” Malebear said. “We were looking for something that gave us a more contemporary, current identity.”

The festival’s three-day schedule includes storytelling, corn husk doll making, and poetry. Indigenous artists including Supaman, Stella Standingbear, Thomas X, and DJ AO will be performing. The vendor marketplace will feature handmade goods, artwork, and traditional herbs.

And yes, you can get a tattoo at the festival. Walk-up appointments will be available at the festival or you can contact the artists before hand. Your tattoo could even be entered into the "fresh" tattoo contest before the weekend is up.

Stella Standingbear and Thomas X are both performing at Akitho Festival this weekend. Photos courtesy of Field Guide Inc.

Mni Sota Akitho Festival tickets and its full schedule are available online. The St Paul Intercontinental Hotel is located at 11 East Kellogg Blvd. in St. Paul.

Iktomi Tattoo and Art Shelf are located at 1415 W. 35th St. in Minneapolis. Iktomi Tattoo is open 11 a.m.-8 p.m. and Art Shelf is open noon-8 p.m. seven days a week.