Hide Week 2023
Overview
New this year, we'll host a thematic week exploring a key traditional craft material and process: hide and skin tanning, finishing, and sewing.
Leather is a material from which humans have created some of the very items that have made life possible, including clothing, footwear, blankets and many accessories. While there are many processes for tanning animal skins, each method reflects the culture, landscape, and knowledge of a specific place and people. Once finished, tanned hides can be sewn and embellished to create extraordinarily beautiful and functional crafts. In this unique event, we’ll explore different tanning and sewing methods through coursework, as well as a free, day-long gathering featuring speakers, demonstrations and community events designed to foster learning and knowledge exchange.
Hide Week will welcome new instructors Jean Marshall and Jeff Harper, as well as veteran teachers Greg Biskakone Johnson, Emily Derke, Nate Johnson, Eric Edgin, and Molly Meyer. On Friday, October 6, we will take a break from coursework for a Conference Day as an added benefit for students. This day is free and open to the public as well. Full details and schedule available late summer.
On Friday, October 6, we will take a break from coursework for a Gathering Day as an added benefit for students. This day is free and open to the public as well. Full details and schedule available late summer.
Bummed about Basket Week? (…which would normally be scheduled this same week of October…). Fear not, Basket Week will return in 2024! Due to prior commitments, several key instructors were unable to participate this year. We plan to be weaving together again in October 2024.
Event Details
Hide Week Gathering Day
Friday, October 6 2023
Speakers and demonstrations are free for the public; mini course enrollment limited to students in Hide Week courses. Any open mini-course seats will be made available to the general public day of.
SPEAKERS, Blue Building
9:00 Panel Discussion: Join us for Q&A and discussion with three experienced hide tanners. Bring your questions, hear about different methods, plus a show and tell with many hides and sewn items.
10AM Bark Tanning Science 101 with Eric Edgin: There’s a lot that goes into getting your desired results from bark tanning. Experienced instructor Eric will take a look at how pH, temperature and other factors play a role in bark tanning a hide.
11AM How to Acquire Hides with Delaney Keshena: There are many ways to access skins and furs to make use of these often discarded resources. Delaney will share some of their stories, experiences, and key learnings around harvesting roadkill, connecting with trappers, making the most of hunting season and more.
7:30PM Moose Hide Revolution: Hide Tanning Revitalization. Join Jean Marshall for a presentation on her efforts to revitalize this craft practice in northwestern Ontario. She’ll discuss how community and identity are part of her work and what she finds most exciting.
DEMO, Hide Tanning, Outdoor Commons
10am- 4pm
Nate Johnson and Jean Marshall will be working on a variety of hides at different stages. Come ask questions, try your hand at different steps, learn about different tools, and bring your own project to work on if you’ve got one.
MINI COURSES, 1pm-3pm
Participation is included in one mini course for all enrolled hide week students; materials fee is payable to instructor during class. Registration information will be sent via email after course registration. Any open mini-course seats will be made available to the general public day of.
Naabawaagan: Deer Toe Game with Jeff Harper
$10 materials fee
We'll work together to make the naabawaagan (deer toe game) and then learn to play the game. Each participant will be able to take theirs home to share.
Rabbit Skinning with Emily Derke
No materials fee
Learn to skin a rabbit, with best hide handling practice for tanning. Some basic meat processing will be covered too. Meat/hides may be available for purchase.
Intro to Tufting with Delaney Keshena
$30 materials fee
Practiced among many Indigenous communities, hair tufting is a craft of embellishment often found in combination with beadwork. During this workshop, Delaney will demonstrate and guide participants through tensioning and shaping their own tufted piece and will introduce a variety of animal fibers and preparation of dye materials.
5:30 Wood-Fired Pizza Bake Potluck
The oven will be hot and the dough will be ready! We’ll have sauce and cheese, you bring your favorite topping to add to the smorgasbord. Delicious fun for everyone; BYO beverages.
Latest Update:
View recent changes →Course Offerings
Brain Tanning Deer Skins
9am-5pm each day
Gifts of the Porcupine: A Quillwork Intensive
9am-4pm each day
Tanning Tools: Make Your Own Dry Scraper
9am-5pm each day
Winter Moccasins, Anishinaabe-Style
9am-5pm each day