Because of their durability, softness and availability, they were the most commonly tanned, worn and utilized skin in North America the most widely used “fabric” of pre-historic times. This article will be limited to the dressing of deerskins. My purpose here is not to teach you a process, but to show you the many options that were traditionally practiced by Native Americans, and to varying degrees why, so that you may experiment and adopt ones that work for you. Sometimes a technique is dependant upon other techniques being done or not being done on the very same hide. In this article, I will describe and illustrate most of the recorded approaches to each step in the process. You read some of these reports and laugh at the conclusions drawn by the anthropologist, things they’d never say, if they had ever brain tanned even one hide… The result has been the assumption that deer and buffalo were tanned the same way, which is not at all true! One advantage that an experienced tanner has over an anthropologist, is that we understand a lot more about the practical side of tanning. There is typically a long description of this process and then a cursory mention of deer if any at all. One of the challenges of researching tanning on the Plains is the obsession early anthropologists had with buffalo hide tanning. Despite this, there are many definite patterns that we can learn from. In modern days, we often say there are as many techniques as there are tanners, and the same seems true of the past.
It is also important to point out that not only did different tribes use different tools and methods, but so even did different people within different tribes! The plethora of different techniques, tools and substances used in the process boggles the brain (ever tried using mashed Saguaro cactus seeds instead of brains?). The written record clearly shows that many tribes never smoked any of their hides and most only smoked hides for particular uses! For instance, the idea that ‘white buckskin was only used ceremonially’. There are several common ‘myths’ about Native American tanning and stone tool tanning that simply don’t hold up to any scrutiny.
I was highly surprised by many of the other patterns that emerged.
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