Tanning a Hide
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| Database ID | 32532 | |
| Institution | Northern Saskatchewan Archives | |
| Fonds/Collection | DNS Academic Education Branch | |
| File/Item Reference | Tanning a Hide | |
| Date of creation | 1970s | |
| Physical description/extent | 36 slides | |
| Number of images | 36 | |
| Historical note | Photographs taken during the 1970s showing the process of tanning hides. Taking a hide from skinning the animal to producing fine leather is a very labour-intensive process involving many steps and the use of traditional skills, tools, and materials. As the process is a long one, these photos were taken at different times and locations. Many were taken by members of the Napthelie and Lydia McKenzie family on their trapline near Stanley Mission, with a camera provided by the DNS Academic Education Branch. The remainder were taken by Lois Dalby and other DNS staff. (For other stages of hide preparation see the photo sets 'Fleshing and Scraping a Hide' and 'Smoking a Moose Hide'.) | |
| Scope and content | A set of 36 photos showing the process of taninning hides. -p01: Lydia McKenzie brings out a hide that has been scraped, dried, and stored until it could be finished. -p02: Lydia unfolds the hide. -p03: Lydia and Napthelie display the whole hide. -p04 to -p05: The kids have fun making a tent of the dried hide. -p06: Lydia and her daughter Jemima prepare a pole they will need to hang up the hide. -p07 to -p11: The boys help scrape off the rough spots. -p12 to -p14: Lydia and her daughter continue the process. -p15: Jemima takes a moment to point out the bullet hole! -p16 to -p17: Lydia works the tanning agents into the hide. This is a mixture of moose brains and soap, or brains and lard. The mixture is boiled with a little water and is rubbed into the hide. -p18 to -p19: The hide is then dried, either in the sun or more quickly over a fire. -p20 to -p23: Jemima getting the dry hide into a tub of warm water. -p24 to -p27: While the hide is soaking it is rubbed and pulled to soften it. This has to be done over and over until bubbles appear through the hide. This takes a long time. -p28 to -p31: The hide is then wrung out. This is a very heavy job using a pole through the knotted hide and two people twisting it. The hide must be reversed each time it is wrung out, and each side alternated for drying. -p32: Each time the hide starts to dry it is pulled and stretched to an even thickness. This is very hard work. -p33: Lydia works with her granddaughter Joyce. -p34 to -p35: The hide is hung up on the pole. -p36: Lydia and her daughter Lillian smoothing out the hide. It is now ready to be smoked. | |
| Contributer | Lois Dalby | |
| Copyright holder | Saskatchewan Education | |
| Other terms governing use and reproduction | Northern Saskatchewan Archives applies to Saskatchewan Education for permission to use materials. | |
| Type | Archival | |
| Primary Media | Photographs | |
| Provenance Access Point | Department of Northern Saskatchewan | |
| Treaty boundaries | Treaty 10 | |
| Cultural region | Subarctic | |
| Names | Dalby, Lois McKenzie, Lydia and Napthelie | |
| Subject | Lifestyle Family life Cree - Woodland Lifestyles Native clothing Northern Lifestyles Tanning | |
| Date Range(s) | 1970-1979 | |
| Permanent Link | https://digital.scaa.sk.ca/ourlegacy/permalink/32532
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