The Fort Nelson Aboriginal Project © copyright 1998 School District 81

Fort Nelson Aboriginal Project
Moose Tanning - Part 3

 
15. A pit is used for smoking the hide. Sticks are
used to keep the hide open at the bottom.
  

 

  

 
step 15
All photographs on this page provided by the Kelly Lake First Nation


step 16
  

 

  

 
16. You sew the hide into a bag for smoking. The bag is
hung on the pole over the smoke pit. The tarp covers
the hide at the base so as to not let smoke escape.
You try to smoke the hide on a still day.

 

17. Rotten spruce wood is used for smoking the hide.
Rotten spruce is golden colour.
  

 

  

 
step 17

 

step 18
  

 

  

 
18. You smoke the hide for 45 minutes and continue
to check it for flames in the pit. The hide is
ready to take off when it is a light tan colour.

 

19. The hide is soaked in warm water and then
folded for wringing.
  

 

  
step 19

 

step 20
  

 

  

 
20. You wrap the hide around a tree or a post and use a
stick to wring out all the water of the hide.

 

21. You continue to soak and wring out the water
several times until the hide is soft and dry.
  

 

  

 
step 21

 

step 22
  

 

  

 
22. The hide is near completion. All that remains is:
o A final softening with a rock flesher.
o A drying by pulling from a post
o A final smoking on the white side of the hide

 

back to part 2 . . .