“Travelling back this trip and trading for cultural knowledge for me is [about asking], what can I offer for what they have” – tattooist, Xander Kavanagh
Samoan-Māori tattooist, Xander Kavanagh is offering free tattoos in exchange for a talanoa – open conversations about Samoan culture and historical stories.
The West-Auckland based tattooist recently took to social media to announce his return to Samoa. He’ll spend three and a half months there from early May to carry out his life-long vision to give back to the community, while deepening his understanding of identity and belonging.
With a Samoan-Irish father from the villages of Tanugamanono in Leufisa, Samoa, and a Māori-Swiss mother from the Ngāpuhi/Ngāti Kahu iwi, this trip presents a chance to reconnect with one part of his mixed lineage on a deeper level.
“Travelling back this trip and trading for cultural knowledge for me is [about asking], what can I offer for what they have,” Xan says.
Aware of the financial restraints many Samoans face, he is offering tattoos to those who may not otherwise afford them, instead recognising the value of knowledge, history and storytelling.
“If I can provide that service and all they have to do is talk or point at something and say ‘this happened there’ then it gives me more of an understanding about who I am and where I come from, but also gives them a sense of pride that they can see the value in the stories they have,” Xan says.
To manage his time, he is limiting himself to one client per day, and focusing on tattoos that are no larger than a forearm wrap, with flexibility around placement and design.
The idea was inspired by his time in Samoa in 2020, where he became immersed in village life after COVID 19 disrupted his plans to board the va’a Gaualofa. This experience connected him closely to the lived realities of Samoan culture and identity.
“I always wanted to share that experience with other foreign born Samoans who have never been back or never understood the importance of returning,” he says.
“The slow pace, the humility, the hard work, the village politics and economy. It all starts to make sense why we are the way we are outside of the islands.”
Building on his interests in archaeology, cultural history and early human settlement, Xan is taking an organic approach to the exchange – allowing his clients to lead the stories and knowledge they choose to share.
From there, his focus shifts to preserving what’s been told.
“Honouring the sacredness of what gets shared with me and making sure they don’t feel exploited is something that I’m still trying to figure out,” Xan says.
Consent sits at the centre of his approach, with clients able to decide whether their stories are shared or kept private. Xan also encourages direct engagement with families and communities when seeking knowledge, noting that if his clients allow him to share their stories with his followers, it won’t be in full detail.
“I can share the resources with you, but YOU need to visit these families, and you need to do something for them or give them something to know what it is they do or have.”
For Xan, the intention goes beyond documentation and exchange.
“I’m just providing a glimpse into the depths of the culture and trying to light the fire inside people to understand how rich the islands are.”
Beyond personal growth, Xan hopes the project will inspire other overseas-born Samoans to return home and engage more meaningfully with their communities.
“Go home, give back and learn the stories,” he says.
He hopes this starts a wider shift among people from different trades to offer their skills in exchange for cultural knowledge and history. But he says meaningful connection requires more than occasional visits.
“It’s easy to go back for a week for a family reunion every ten years, give a bit of money and feel like you’re making a difference, but I think we have a responsibility to our people and our communities to be a part of the culture and grow together,” Xan says.
As he prepares to return home for the first time in six years, it is the simple things he is looking forward to enjoying the most, adding that “family and the village will always be number one”.
Looking ahead, Xan plans to take his cultural exchange to Tonga, where he hopes to deepen his understanding of the shared history between Tonga and Samoa, while fully immersing himself in his wife’s cultural heritage.
However, self-funding his projects will place financial restraints on the scope and pace of his work. Despite this, his ultimate goal is to extend the exchange to all Pacific islands, gaining a broader insight into Pacific history and heritage.
Some quotes have been edited for clarity.
