Moose Hide Mitts and a Little Bit of Everything

Picture of the groups mitts from Chelsea (one of the women that helped with the making)

Ok, where to begin!

Last week I have joined up with a few others to learn how to make traditional mitts from moose hide. I, being a terrible sewer as I've never really tried it much, actually think its quite simple. It is a bit long to make seeing as how I am inexperienced but our Elder, Vina, who taught us how to make them, said she can make a full mitt in one day. How long did it take me to make them? Erm... well we had 3 sessions that lasted a few hours long each and then we added 2 more extra because it wasn't enough for everyone plus a few hours here and there at home.

This here is my work. Just a simple picture showing the beginning where we sew on two pieces together using sinew. The hide is a bit tough to work with. I needed a thimble and even pliers or anything that can have a grip on the needle to pull it through. Although I started off in the traditional way using another piece of hide instead of a thimble.

I didn't take too many pictures even though I wished I had for my own personal memory for future references but at the same time I would have been the only one doing so in the group and that makes me feel kind of weird and disrespectful and even though I could at home, most of the time I would be too focused in what I was doing to even think about it. But thankfully Chelsea took a few for us.

In this picture, my back is to the camera and the cheekiest elder to my right. She's so much fun, I was lucky to be sitting beside her. You can see on the table a bit of the process at the begining. Might not look like much right now but it all comes together beautifully.

The woman sitting on the left is Elder Vina. She's the one leading the group, teaching us and helping when needed. She's got so much heart, filled with genuine smiles and so much spunk, and soon to be 80! I respect this woman so much, I truly am blessed to be part of this experience.

Once you have the hide all sewn up, the next part is to sew up the liner. I am not sure if its a rabbit fur thingy or what but its thick and fluffy and much easier to sew!

Fits snug like a glove :P

The finishing touches are cutting the fringes and then adding rabbit fur around the cuffs. It's supper soft and warm as well and makes a really nice finishing touch to it.

This one still needs a couple stitches as its a bit loose but now you can at least see the semi final product. I plan on doing some bead work on them but I am in the process of learning how to bead on material. It really is quite interesting and is similar to beading a bracelet but not quite. Can you guess what I would sew on? :P My name is the clue.

I am quite proud of these mitts, a lot of time was put into them and the experience of a lifetime, to do it how it was done way back when. It is part of my history through my First Nations roots.

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I've also been working on making more beaded bracelets. I made one for one of my girls using a different pattern.

I have also started one for my other daughter but actually a necklace rather than a bracelet.

Sorry about it being a darker picture, I was making it at night with little light.

You can see that the edges aren't straight and if you look carefully, you can see spacings in between the beads. This is because my white and black beads are not the same size as the other ones. I think those are 10's and the pink ones are 11's but I'm not 100% sure on that. But you can see why it is important that the beads are the same size. I went ahead anyways since I didn't have any of the same sizes and well, I was hoping it would have been ok but no, I have to start over. BOOOO! But it is good practice :D

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We've also had a fun evening at an open house with Keepers Of The Circle, where they organized a supper, drumming and painting!

What you see here is what we call an Indian Taco! Such yummy goodness. It consists of chili, tomatoes, lettuce, cheese and sour cream, (sometimes onions) all on top of bannock (fry bread). Just one can fill me up but I have seen some eat two. So good!

Drumming was fun, we sang the Traveling song, a Water song, Flying Eagle song and I learned a new Water song that I just can't get out of my head. Here is a youtube video since I can't sing on here.

Women are the protectors of water so it important to sing the Water songs for healing and life.

Next up: We meet with one of my spirit sisters where we work together in bringing more cultural and traditional activities to the families in the town I live in. Also a mini Pow wow to come March 14th and another on the 21rst and more meet ups with my friend along the way. Stay tuned!