Page "Aleut people" Paragraph 23

From Russian arrival in the Aleutian Islands in 1786 through the mid-19th century, the Russians invaded and enslaved the natives, and many of the Aleut customs disappeared.

The Russians, although very intrigued by their body art, thought their piercings and tattoos were “ hideous ” and made the younger women believe that body art did not make them attractive.

Even the Christian missionaries said they were savage looking and tried to alter how the Aleuts dressed and groomed themselves.