Traditional Crafts

Students will launch by metal canoes decorated in a traditional manner, each with a Thunderhawk Guide steering and help paddle to the overnight site. Once the guests have arrived at the site and stowed the canoes they will learn how to set their Native Fly or wedge tent which they will sleep in, collect the correct wood, start a fire using traditional methods of flint and steel (steels supplied by us & also available for students to purchase), cook traditional foods of the 1700’s such as stuffed clams, bannock, vegetables and or steaks over the coals. The meal will be followed by downtime stories, history time and drumming. Students must remain in the camp area regardless of whether they choose not to attend evening activities unless accompanied by a Guide. Day two: Breakfast will be prepared followed by morning classes: Learning how to build traditional survival shelters used by trappers in the 1700's, tracking and understanding the animals, and learning how to make and use a traditional fishing trap. Leaflets will be given to each student to take home with them. Lunch will be cooked in the traditional way prepared by one of the instructors. After lunch Students will have 1 ½ hours of personal downtime and then the entire group will canoe back to the launch site late afternoon. Students will walk away with knowledge of how life was in the 1700’s for indigenous peoples during the French and Indian wars accompanied with a fantastic memory of an overnight adventure and skills that will help keep them safe in an outdoor survival situation.

Students will launch by metal canoes decorated in a traditional manner, each with a Thunderhawk Guide steering and help paddle to the overnight site. Once the guests have arrived at the site and stowed the canoes they will learn how to set their Native Fly or wedge tent which they will sleep in, collect the correct wood, start a fire using traditional methods of flint and steel (steels supplied by us & also available for students to purchase), cook traditional foods of the 1700’s such as stuffed clams, bannock, vegetables and or steaks over the coals. The meal will be followed by downtime stories, history time and drumming. Students must remain in the camp area regardless of whether they choose not to attend evening activities unless accompanied by a Guide. Day two: Breakfast will be prepared followed by morning classes: Learning how to build traditional survival shelters used by trappers in the 1700's, tracking and understanding the animals, and learning how to make and use a traditional fishing trap. Leaflets will be given to each student to take home with them. Lunch will be cooked in the traditional way prepared by one of the instructors. After lunch Students will have 1 ½ hours of personal downtime and then the entire group will canoe back to the launch site late afternoon. Students will walk away with knowledge of how life was in the 1700’s for indigenous peoples during the French and Indian wars accompanied with a fantastic memory of an overnight adventure and skills that will help keep them safe in an outdoor survival situation.

Alex is known in the woodland indian culture and historical programs for making all of his own traditional attire, including moccasins, and will instruct the class in the art of traditional eastern woodland Indian moccasin making. With his instruction, each student will make their own pair of center seam-pucker toe leather moccasins; these were the most common among the eastern woodland tribes. Students will be using deer hide leather and awls to make primitive, traditional eastern woodland moccasins.

Get an early start on holiday gift giving. Make pinecone flowers, use natural mosses and twigs to decorate a small keepsake box and one small frame. Add your own photo for a special gift or family keepsake.

Weave a splint seat onto a hardwood stool frame with either natural colored or dyed flat reed, with a choice of colors to choose from. Stool and weaving materials will be provided.

Spend a few days learning how to cane your own chair during which you'll learn how to weave the traditional 7-step caning pattern. Bring along a chair in good condition in need of a new caned seat. Ideally, the chair seat will be square or rectangular in shape and have fewer than 85 holes drilled into the seat frame. Any repairs and refinishing should be completed before the class begins. Please bring a chair in sound condition, with the old cane removed, if possible.

Spend a few days learning how to cane your own chair during which you'll learn how to weave the traditional 7-step caning pattern. Bring along a chair in good condition in need of a new caned seat. Ideally, the chair seat will be square or rectangular in shape and have fewer than 85 holes drilled into the seat frame. Any repairs and refinishing should be completed before the class begins. Please bring a chair in sound condition, with the old cane removed, if possible.

Spend a few days learning how to cane your own chair during which you'll learn how to weave the traditional 7-step caning pattern. Bring along a chair in good condition in need of a new caned seat. Ideally, the chair seat will be square or rectangular in shape and have fewer than 85 holes drilled into the seat frame. Any repairs and refinishing should be completed before the class begins. Please bring a chair in sound condition, with the old cane removed, if possible.

Sharpening and honing of blades is a mystery to most people these days although our ancestors knew the skill intimately. Technology of honing has definitely improved over the past 100 years and there are many technologies to choose from. Howard will demystify the sharpening process and you will leave the workshop with the skills to sharpen your own blades. Students should bring one or two blades to hone for the class.

Chairs with four intact rails can accept several different types of woven seats, including splint seats woven in various patterns. In this class you'll learn to weave a herringbone pattern splint seat onto a chair using flat reed. Please bring a chair that is in sound condition with the old seat removed. Any refinishing you wish to do should be completed prior to the class

Many of our "Founding Feathers" were indeed from turkeys! We will learn how to cut and letter with our own turkey quill pen using ink made from black walnut husks. Black Letter (Gothic) and Roman letter styles will be demonstrated and students will have an opportunity to practice using simple homemade markers.