ItB次元官网网址檚 not where your mind usually goes when one hears the phrase B次元官网网址渦se your brain.B次元官网网址�
But Vancouver Island MuB次元官网网址檒a artist Shawn Decaire gave onlookers insight into a sacred and timeless tradition among Indigenous people: B次元官网网址� the traditional brain tanning of a hide.
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In front of a boisterous outdoor Campbell River crowd of about 40 people April 1, Decaire took questions beside his smoker. Made of an old propane tank and burning cherry wood chips, the smoker had a pipe leading up to an elk hide in its final preparation stages.
B次元官网网址淢y aim is to try to teach to reclaim some of the teachings my ancestors did once in this very land,B次元官网网址� Decaire said to the crowd, who huddled underneath the canopy that housed the smoker.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of hunters out there, a lot of providers. ThereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of those sacred animals that weB次元官网网址檙e letting go. We can take simple pieces of rawhide, take the entire hide, clean it and give it to our pets. My dog he loves a piece of rawhide, most dogs do.B次元官网网址�
Throughout the 90-minute event, onlookers got to feel sample pieces of leather, such as rabbit, elk, and cowhide. Decaire passed them around while the crowd asked questions.
A practice in Indigenous tradition and culture, brain tanning is a rigorous process that involves literally rubbing the brain tissue of a hunted animal and water into a wet rawhide.
The emulsion helps break down the membranes that have to be removed. The hide is then softened by working it against a cable, before being rung out and ultimately smoked. The hide can be used for clothing, or traditional Indigenous toys or drums. The drum which Decaire played to open the presentation, was put together on Friday.
B次元官网网址淭he drum I just sang that song on, was just a piece of rawhide yesterday,B次元官网网址� said Decaire. B次元官网网址淚 just tied that drum yesterday, and now I get to share it today.B次元官网网址�
The event was put on by the Campbell River Art Gallery, as part of the MuB次元官网网址檒a exhibition curated by Nadine Bariteau. The exhibit runs through until April 29.
Edward Hitchins
edward.hitchins@campbellrivermirror.com
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