Practicing ancestral skills is a way of providing grounding, connection, and healing in a time when the world seems to be tilting sideways. I am offering this special Fish Skin Leather: Tanning with Tea class as a fundraiser for current social justice issues in need of desperate attention. Here’s how it will work:
A percentage of total funds contributed to this class will go to charities as follows:
75% will be split between 2 charities. ONE supporting the BLM cause in Minnesota and ONE supporting indigenous women’s rights in Canada. Of that 75% total:
Half will go to Black Visions Collective in Minnesota (https://www.blackvisionsmn.org/)
Half will go to the Native Women’s Association of Canada (https://www.nwac.ca/)
The other 25% will cover some of my costs of running the class and a small portion towards my income in this time when I an unable to teach at community events and gatherings.
Here is the CLASS INFO:
The making of fish skin leather is an almost forgotten ancient skill that was once common among ocean and freshwater communities in the Northern Hemisphere in places such as Japan, China, Norway, Sweden, Alaska and the Pacific Coast. It is a beautiful textile that can be tanned in different ways to create a strong leather for clothing, pouches, wallets, footwear and art. In this two part class we will explore tea tanning and will use everyday materials you will likely find in your own home. In Part 1 we will prepare our fish skins for tanning and prepare a tannin liquor. In Part 2 we will soften and finish our skins into a beautiful leather. By the end, you will know all you need to know to have your own simple home fish tannery, and be a part of a growing community of fish skin tanners and revivalists of this ancestral skill. This will be a fun, experiential, and peaceful class where we can immerse ourselves in the teachings of the fish. I may even read you a story or two.
DATES:
Note it is TWO classes: Saturdays, June 13 & 20 at 10am (class is expected to be 2-3 hours to allow for questions and discussion)
Supplies needed:
1. A fish skin or more (from at least a fillet of fish). Salmon, halibut, cod, etc. Take care when skinning to keep in one piece with no holes.
2. Something to scrape with: a tablespoon, seashells with smooth edges, mason jar lid
3. Dish soap
4. Bowls for washing and rinsing
5. Rag, hand towel or apron
6. Paint scraper or old debit card
7. Cutting board
8. Oil (coconut, bacon fat, margarine, etc.)
9. Black tea...a box of Tetley, Red Rose, or any other old black tea you have lurking around
My Usual Registration Fee Scale for both classes (charged after the first class) is as follows: $100 | $50 | $25 (Regular in person class is $125)
Reservation Fee: $10 (to avoid no-shows)
Note: If you are in the Vancouver area and can’t easily access at least one fish skin, please contact me and I may be able to help you out.
I am using a sliding scale model on a platform called We Show Up, where you register for an account, reserve your spot in the event, and then pay AFTER the class and YOU determine the amount.
* This new start up business makes it possible for artists and small businesses to hold virtual events with their support, and all for FREE. A very small percentage (3%) goes towards credit card processing fees.