Hide Toolmaking with Tom Huntington
Hide Toolmaking with Tom Huntington
Beginning Hide Tanning with Jessica Denny
Moose Hide Drum Making with Daniel Harrison
Final Hide Scraping/Softening with Melissa Shaginoff
This iteration of the Alaska Native PLACE workshops centered around the material theme of moose hide. We chose this theme based on local interest in Dgheyey kaq’ (Anchorage) and the need to foster intergenerational community engagement around moose hide tanning processes. Our goal was to offer workshops that would equip participants with the necessary tools for hide tanning, impart knowledge about the various stages of the tanning process, and nurture the growth of a community of hide tanners in Dgheyey kaq’.
Hide work is healing. These workshops became a testament to the healing power, evident in the continued mentorship of our instructors, the shared stories of our hides, and the hide community we continue to nurture today.
Jwm Ak Native Place Feb 2024 at Alaska Native Medical Center, Anchorage. Photo courtesy of TCF.
"I see patients who look like my family. They trust me because I understand where they come from."
Jwm Ak Native Place Feb 2024's story is one of thousands. Every semester, TCF scholarship recipients across Alaska and the Lower 48 are building careers, strengthening communities, and investing in the next generation. The cycle of support continues.
