Well, Tan my Hide and call me BZ!

While on her adventures, BZ was able to go out and also spend several days learning traditional Wyandotte Native practices, such as porcupine quill work (a distinct type of embroidery, predating European contact when colorful glass beads arrived on Turtle Island), Ash basket weaving, and leather tanning.

The meticulously designed and cut hide scraping tool made from bone. Nothing left unused!

This is the new homeland where Wyandotte roots are firmly planted. A branch of the Wyandot Nation that had been living in Kansas for a short while was moved to northeastern Oklahoma Indian Territory in the mid-1800’s. Among them were both Walkers and Zanes, BZ’s maternal ancestors.

Great-Nephew Rane Wilson scraping his hide at the fencepost. Other Wyandotte men work alongside him.

“This is how community is built…this kind of work needs a village.” Tanning a deer hide is an all hands on deck practice and all must be willing. During the four days they processed their hides, the group was able to find moments of true connectedness by way of story, song, and language.

Working together to pull and stretch the hide

“We all had a sense of purpose and felt it working together.”