Tommy Bird, a Southend moosehide maker, recently published his newest book: “Tanning Moosehides: The Northern Saskatchewan Trapline Way.”
Bird has been working on the book throughout the summers in his yard, with Lena and Lawrence Adam from Fond du Lac. The combined knowledge of the hide making team exceeds 100 years of experience. Over the years, Bird has traveled to many culture camps and the camps brought many interested people wanting to learn the art of making moosehides. He also saw a need to have a step-by-step guide to carry forward for reference when the camps are over. The knowledge keepers are getting old, and the way of life is changing, and Bird wanted to find a way to revive the old traditional way of tanning moosehides and keep the art alive for the future generations.
“With this book it tells you how to read your hide, how to stretch, how to cut it, and how to cut the holes, it’s step-by-step and easy to follow,” sai
The traditional way of tanning a moosehide can take a person over 100 hours to complete a hide project and that is with no repeating of steps. The book is 65 pages, and it breaks down each step with pictures in each chapter.
Bird has been involved with hide making for years and says there are still people teaching moosehide making. He is open to helping people who want to make moosehide or have questions. His goal is to keep the traditional way of making hides alive.
“Moosehide tanning could carry-on to people who are interested, so that way that part of our culture can carry on, that’s my hope,” explained Bird.
The book is available from Tommy Bird and can be purchased by calling 306-961-4315 or messaging through Facebook messenger.
(Photo courtesy of Tommy Bird Facebook.)