Taught by Callan Burton-Shore

Callan is a craftsperson, teacher of earth-skills, and farmer. She aims to live as connected to the land as possible and does not like to be kept indoors. She spends much of her time climbing trees, carving spoons, and working animal hides.

She has taught hide tanning, animal processing, friction fire, blacksmithing, spoon carving and more to adults and children throughout the area. She is the buckskin tanning instructor at the Earthskills Rendezvous Gatherings and a teacher at Forest Floor Wilderness Programs.

For her, tanning hides is one of the most grounding and enlivening practices. It connects her to her ancestors and reminds her what it means to be human.

This workshop is a powerful challenge. Attempting the very physical act of transforming raw animal skin into useful leather is an ambitious undertaking!  We provide nutritious meals, cozy lodging, a welcoming campus, knowledgeable and skilled staff, good tools and high quality materials. You provide the elbow grease, effort and labor. With focus, determination and dedication it is possible to walk away with a finished hide. We will do everything in our power to help you succeed. As we are all students, at different learning levels, based on diversity of skill sets, age, past experience, exposure and physical prowess, each participant will have a unique experience. 

Arrival time is 10 am on Friday, October 20, and the class will begin promptly at 10:15 am and ends at 4:00 pm on Sunday, October 22. The entire time is required. White tail deer hides will be provided for each participant from tagged deer harvested and taken to a meat processor. They are hides that would otherwise be discarded. Our intention is to honor the sacred parts of each animal and use them to their highest purpose.

Description:

In this class, we will turn raw deer hides into beautiful, soft, and versatile buckskin. You will learn a method called combo-tanning which involves aspects of both brain-tanning and bark-tanning. Buckskin is a great material for garments, bags, shoes, and more.

This class will be physically strenuous at times, but almost anyone can do it if committed enough. In the beginning, the process can also be stinky and gross, but any effort and discomfort is made worthwhile by the feeling of satisfaction when you hold your soft, finished buckskin.

Hide tanning is a skill that was practiced by all of our ancestors and is a skill, I believe, we should all know today. It is a chance to combat waste culture (most deer hides are sent to landfills) and a way to show reverence to our animal relatives. Plus, it’s fun.