Gwich'in Athabascan bone tool

 

                                               Athabascan bone tool to tan moose hide

                                                  Nehtthah-bone tanning tool

I love this moose leg bone  tool that once belong to my late grandmother, she used this bone tool to tan her beautiful caribou and moose hides. This is an art within itself.  This tool is from the lower leg of a moose.

It is a strong leg bone. The cloth upper cloth is wrapped around grandma's wrist and the lower cloth is for her to hold it as she remove the extra meat and fur off the moose hide. She does this in perfectly, that the whole moose hide is all even. The process of moose and caribou hide tanning has many steps.  I am sharing only a part of it, this is to show the beautiful art of moose hide tanning. The tanning of moose hide has been done for thousands of years. It is truly work of art.

When it is done, the moose hide is soft and it is golden brown. This moose hide is use to make beautiful moose hide boots, gloves, mittens, alter cloth and other fine items. This art is a treasure to the Athabascan people.

Cite:

My grandmothers Alice Peter and Mary Sam

Whom shared with my about the art of moose hide tanning

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