Students at the Frontier School Division in Kisipakamak (Brochet) participate in a hide tanning and tufting workshop.

By John Halkett

Grace Masse implemented a presentation/workshop on hide tanning and tufting at the Frontier School Division in Brochet, Manitoba. 

We used a woodland caribou hide. I assisted with preparation and presentation during the workshop. Learning how to work with hide is an essential skill to practice to keep our traditional ways alive. 

On day one (November 5th), we had the hide tanning preparation, photo consent forms signed, a meeting at school, and the hide tanning frame built.

On day two (November 6th) at 9am, Grace showed students from the school how to remove the remaining fat, meat, and connective tissue from the skin of the caribou by using handheld tools. 

Students also had the chance to use a bone for the flesh removal so they could get a better sense of how it was to work with hides before we had all these fancy tools. 

Grace thoroughly explained the process of hide tanning to the students during the presentation and also shared historical facts on hide tanning during the presentation. 

Many students got involved, worked hard, and did a great job.

Grade 8s were also present for this day.

On day three (November 7th) at 9am, a larger and sturdier frame was built for the hide. Students were shown where to cut holes in the hide for stringing. 

Grace walked the students through the stringing process and the students were able to stretch and string up the hide. Grade 7 and 8 were also present for this.

Tufting was taught by Grace in the afternoon in the classroom of the grade 8 students.

Tufting caribou is a craft practiced by many First Nation individuals residing in Northern Indigenous communities.

Tufting is the act of stitching small patches of hair on small canvases for clothing. For example, caribou tufting can be used for decorating moccasins, mitts, and other types of clothing. 

Each student made their own tuft on a small canvas, and made caribou tuft keychains for themselves in the classroom with Grace for the rest of the school day.

The students showed much interest in the hide tanning and tufting practices. Many students asked when is the next time we can do this again. 

The hide was returned to FMM’s Community Project Coordinator Myron Cook (who harvested the caribou a week prior) after we were done using it for the presentation.

Workshop participants. John Halkett