How the Woods Cree Primitively Tanned Hides
Learning about primitive hide tanning offers a glimpse into the past.
When I first began to experiment with primitive skills, one of the first things I delved into was primitive hide tanning. Something about turning an animal skin into a fine piece of clothing or other gear really appeals to me for some reason. While growing up, tanning was one of those skills that everyone could tell you about, but nobody really knew how to do it. Most people knew they used brains, but few knew almost anything beyond that. With the emergence of Youtube, people who knew how to primitively tan hides gained a space to be able to share their knowledge. Today, there are many videos out there showing how to tan a hide, but there is one in particular that does a good job showing the primitive process.
This video shows how the Wood Cree used to tan moose hides. While they do use a few simple modern tools (steel knives, plastic buckets, modern rope) it does offer the viewer a good insight into how hides would have been tanned in the Stone Age. If you have never seen this primitive hide tanning video, take a few minutes to see what the process looked like.
As you can see, this primitive method of tanning hides was simple but effective. It also would have been a foundational skill people needed to know. Once you gained an understanding of how to tan a hide, you could make clothes, shelters, bags, quivers, and countless other items that made your life better. Not only that, but brain tanned skins are some of the softest yet most durable materials you can wear.
Knowing the process really is great for people interested in primitive skills. Not only does tanning hides leave you with a functional piece of material, but it is also teaches you about history. Living history activities like hide tanning can really help you better understand the past. For tens of thousands of years people made and dressed in brain tanned hides. By participating in the process you can gain a better understanding of those people's lives. That is what living history is all about.
The author in his own primitively tanned buckskins.
To keep learn more about primitive skills and the American frontier follow along by subscribing below. Also, if you are interested in living history you might take a look at my FREE short story; Birth of a Frontiersman. It is the first chapter in my book Ride to Rendezvous that blends fiction and living history into one package.