3 Day Buckskin Tanning Courses & Locations 2024
Registration Opens February 15th ~

May 3rd - 5th  Denman Island - 6 spots $375
May 18th - 20th Anderson Lake - 10 spots (arrival May 17) $375
June 21st - 23rd Salt Spring Island- 6 spots $375

Buckskin 3 DAY Workshop Description

In this 3 day workshop you will be guided through the entire ancient process of the natural method of Brain Tanning. We will talk about the variety of methods that are practiced as well as explore the difference between hair on tanning, buckskin, rawhide & bark tanning. Through this hands-on, embodied process we are given an amazing opportunity to connect with ourselves, each other and the spirit of the deer.

In this course students will each take a deer hide from a fresh hide state to a beautiful soft, supple buckskin leather hide to enjoy for many years to come.

Please bring your own knife to work with.
All raw course materials are provided.
Every student will take home a hide.

Camping is available at no extra cost at the Anderson Lake location.
Unless otherwise posted students are responsible for their own food and camping equipment or other lodging at all workshops locations.

Please note that this is a physically demanding skill, will require long days, and will be mostly in the sun. This course spans three days to improve odds that people will finish their hides. It will be a lot of work and fun, the rewards are worth it.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Day 1 Scraping

This day will consist of scraping and removing the grain from the hide, deliming in the lake and an in depth discussion about the different types of tanning and their applications. The rest of the day will be leisure time for lounging by the lake, sauna or exploring the local wildlands.

Day 2 Braining and Softening

Students will begin the process of braining their hide early in the morning after breakfast, by the afternoon all hides will be getting softened in hide racks (this process is a committed period of time).
We will help each other finish softening as every hide is different and some may finish faster than others.

Day 3 Smoking and Departure

We will complete the process of tanning by smoking the hides, finalizing the alchemy we have been partaking in these last few days. Smoking is the last step to transform the hide to make your buckskin last for a lifetime.