(film reel clattering) (stick tapping) - A lot of us are just searching for identity and we're searching for connection to who we are, to who our ancestors were (tapping sounds) and one of the ways to do that is through tattooing.

[mellow music] ♪ These symbols are from your lineage, from the Mapuche tribe, yeah, and these are symbols that exist.

And, I'm sure you've seen it, so they might look familiar to you.

But, these are very traditional patterns that are found in the weavings, the weaving of the Mapuche tribe.

(tapping sounds) - [Toni] What is Batok and what does it mean to you to do this practice?

- [Francis] So, Batok-- and it's also known by different names, depending on the region.

It is a pre-colonial, traditional tapping tattoo practice, and it has been in the culture for thousands of years.

(tapping sounds) [peaceful music] When the colonizers came to the Philippines, Spain used to call the Philippines, Las Islas de los Pintados.

They called them the "islands of the painted people" because they noticed that they were just covered in tattoos.

It is a very essential part of our lineage.

It's an essential part of our ancestors.

[peaceful music] - [Toni] How has it been to be part of the journey of people reconnecting with their precolonial ancestry?

- [Francis] It's so significant, especially in this day and age.

I feel like one of my biggest goals in doing this work is to just make our community more aware that this practice is and continues to remain alive and thriving.

And, that it is something that our colonists just never could've taken away from us.

Having this practice continuing to grow and to thrive, and just being one of many that does this, I want this to always be their way of saying, "Hey, I know who I am.

I know where I come from, and because of it, I know that I can move forward and I can reach my fullest potential because of that.

- [Toni] My God, I love her all of a sudden!

- [Francis] Oh, she's beautiful.

She's beautiful.

[peaceful music fades] (hip-hop beat)