Land Based Teaching - Traditional Hide Tanning

My hide journey started in 2017, where I attended my first hide camp in Aseniwuche Winewak Nation, Susa Creek.  After coming back from camp, I called my Grandpas sister (my Kokum) and told her I helped tan hides in Susa Creek.  She told me they use to tan hides with their mom when they were very young (1940-1950's).  I never knew my Grandfather George tanned hides with his mom and losing him at 6 years old this practice was never passed down to his children nor his grandchildren.  While working on moose hides in Susa Creek, I had a deep rooted connection, it was a very emotional experience for me and now reflecting back this was blood memory coming through me.  
This traditional practice was here since time immemorial and reclaiming this practice grounds me in a way where it brings me closer to my Grandfather, to my Kokum Jennie,  this practice is rooted in who I am and where come from. 
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I am currently revitalizing hide tanning within my own kin, bringing this knowledge back to our family.  I have been on my hide journey since 2017 and by no means I am not an expert as I continue to learn, grow and learn different ways of knowing.  I had the opportunity to tan hides with the Mountain People, the Cree, the Dene, with the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg and with the Teetl’it Gwich’in people of Fort McPhearson.  All beautiful in their own way, hide tanning brings community together and I am seeing more connections to hide tanning across Turtle Island and this warms my heart so much!   
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We make hide tools for Indigenous folks who do not have access to tools.  We have softening tools, fleshing tools and scrapers which are all hand made and individually hand cut.
I also work in community sharing this knowledge working along side folks who also want to reclaim hide tanning.  

I am currently booking dates in 2024 and it gets quite busy when the weather warms up.  As soon as you know your dates or estimate contact me prior to see if dates are available. 
If you would like more information, kindly reach out by filling in the contact form below or email info@jshinedesigns.ca