June 9, 2022
Traditionally tanning a hide is a labour-intensive process that usually begins with the hunt, and ends in soft, smoky product ready to be made into everything from moccasins to vests and more. Not only does this process require time and hard work, there are also fewer tanners with the expertise and knowledge to carry out this traditional task, and hides are not always brought out of the bush as meat is prioritized if space is limited.
All of these factors are contributing to a shortage of traditionally tanned hides for artisans to use for their final creations.
As a result, some artists have turned to commercially tanned hides from the south to make their craft. This kind of hide can fill a void, but commercially tanned hides have several disadvantages. The colour and thickness of the hides are often quite different from traditionally tanned hides, they are harder to sew, and don’t have the same long-lasting aroma that is so important to many people. And one other thing…by disconnecting the people from the process there can be a loss of the cultural connection of passing on traditions from elder to youth.
Tanning workshops have been hosted in the past. Keep an eye out for other related events on our News feed.
In an attempt to help address hide price, availability and quality, the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI) is working with International Fur Dressers (IFD) in Winnipeg to purchase and prepare six moosehides from the south, before they are shipped to the NWT to be finished. This program will assist with the labour-intensive process of scraping the hides but once finished, still leave the hide with the look, feel and smell of a traditionally tanned hide. Tanning workshops remain essential to ensuring the entire traditional tanning process is preserved for generations to come, but this program will help improve access to the increased demand for affordable traditional hides for NWT artisans to create with.
Three tanners have already received two moosehides apiece in the communities of Fort Good Hope, Fort Simpson, and Lutsel K’e. One hide is skinned, fleshed, scraped and hair removed, then wet pickled and shipped frozen. The second hide is skinned, fleshed, scraped, hair removed, pickled and commercially tanned. The hides will be completed in each community over the course of the summer. Each of the tanners is being fairly paid for their time and expertise, and will provide feedback to ITI on the quality of the hides, the time and effort, and cultural implications by the end of the summer.
If successful, this hybrid model could help increase the availability of traditionally tanned moosehide under the Hide and Fur Program (HFP) for sale to NWT artisans at an affordable price.
Learn about the Hide and Fur Program
Watch for future blogs as this project progresses throughout the summer of 2022.