tânisi ka-isi-nihtâ-âhpinihkêyan ~ How to Tan a Hide

Watch how your grandmother does it. Listen

because the scraper sounds

differently from the flesher.

Remember that sound.

kiskisitota ôma kâ-itihtâkwahk.

Get four strong saplings for the frame.

Watch the way your grandmother ties

them together with rawhide laces. Pull

the cords tight if her hands

are aflame with arthritis. It’s important

to work the flesh side first. Remove

fat, muscle. With the mihkihkwan.

Don’t let the smell

bother you. Remember

to work the flesh side first.

kiskisi nîkân ka-mihkitaman itê kâ-wiyâsiwik.

Help your grandmother prepare

the meat for drying. This will take

about four days with a smudge

under the hot sun. Remember the feel

of the meat when it curls around. Brittle

enough to break. Taste it

to be sure. Remember.

kiskisi because one day you, too,

will be a grandmother.

Turn the frame over so the fur side

is up. Now watch how your grandmother

scrapes the fur off. Uses the scraper.

wâpam tânisi ê-itâpacihtât ôma mâtahikan.

Listen

for how the mâtahikan sounds

different from the mihkihkwan.

nitohta.

nâkatohkê êkwa kika-pêhtên

tânisi pîtos mâtahikan

ê-itihtâkwahk ispîhci mihkihkwan.

Your grandmother will show you just how

to scrape the hide so it’s the same

thickness all over. Watch the way kôhkom

taps it. Listens for the sound. Checks

for even thickness. You listen too.

Remember that sound.

nitohta mîna kîsta.

kiskisitota ôma kâ-itihtâkwahk.

Once all the fur is removed you’re ready

to oil the hide. Brains of the animal

work just fine. Boil them in a small

amount of water, about a bucket full. Watch

as your grandmother works the brains

into the hide over and over again,

until the hide begins to soften. Until

the brains saturate the hide. Remember,

the brains soften the hide. kiskisi,

wiyîtihpa ôhi ê-âpacihtâhk ka-yôskinamihk askêkin.

Once softened, the hide is ready

for tanning. Listen to your grandmother.

She’ll tell you what kind

of wood to collect. Look for a fallen tree

that has progressed nearly to soil.

The underside might be earth but the wood

inside is perfect: that pulpy,

spongy wood that won’t flame

but makes good smoke. Watch closely

as your grandmother hangs that hide

over the smudge. Stay with your grandmother.

Help her with that hide.

Feed the smoke.

wîtapim kôhkom.

wîcih ka-mâtahikêt.

kaskâpasikê.

Listen very carefully.

Remember, the brains soften the hide.

Remember

so you will know.

nâkatohkê.

kiskisi wiyîtihpa anihi ê-âpacihtâhk ka-yôskinamihk askêkin.

kiskisi

êkosi kika-nakacihtân.