North American Aboriginal Hide Tanning: The Act of Transformation and Revival

The research for this book began in the early 1980s when brain tanned hide was already very difficult to obtain, very expensive, and Aboriginal hide tanners were difficult to find in Central Alberta. From 1989 to 1991 author Morgan Baillargeon interviewied as many hide tanners as he could find in northern Alberta, the Yukon, and the Northwest Territories as part of his field research for his Master's degree. His interest in this fascinating traditional art continues to this day, and over the years he has interviewed more than 40 traditional and contemporary tanners.

This book explores the relationship between Aboriginal peoples and big game animals killed for food, and for the anned leather they produce from the hides. Hide-tanning recipes from 15 tanners are included, as are step-by-step instructions on how to tan moose, buffalo, deer, elk, and caribou hide, using traditional North American Aboriginal tanning techniques. A number of experimental techniques involving traditional and non-traditional tools made of bone, stone, shell, and wood are discussed.