Tipi

Historically the tanning process used the animals own brain to tan its hide. Some variations of the process use egg yolk, oil, alum, or tannin applied to the skin as a tanning agent. We practice brain tanning as well as some alternatives using eggs or soy lecithin and avocado oil.

First the hide is scraped removing all the flesh and fat. Next it is soaked in a bucket with hardwood ashes mixed with water, after a day or two the hair will slip easily from the hide. The hair is scraped off the hide and the grain of the hide is removed. Next the hide should be dried to the point its just damp, then its ready for the tanning agent. After the tanning agent has been throughly rubbed in comes the hard part, the hide must be constantly worked and stretched until it is completely dry. After it is dry it will need to be smoked to keep the leather supple if it gets wet in the future.