ABOUT US

Paleotechnics

One initial area of experimentation was the art braintanning deerskins by the wet-scrape method.

Thanks to help from friends and teachers like Melvin Beattie, Margaret Matthewson, and Jim Riggs, proficiency at tanning hides was reached in a fairly short period of time.

These tanning experiences and the methodologies so developed are the basis for the how-to book, BUCKSKIN: The Ancient Art of Braintanning
(first published as Wet-Scrape Braintanned Buckskin in 1997).

In Febrary of 2004, there was an article written about us by Paul McHugh in the San Francisco Chronicle. To read this article, go to the SF Chronicle archives.

In 2006, we were featured in the braintanning section of the show History Channel Show Modern Marvels: Leather. Go to the History Channel site for airing times or visit the History Channel store to purchase a copy of this dvd.

Attending as instructors at primitive living skills gatherings like the Rabbitstick Rendezvous in Rexburg, ID since 1989, provided a broad base upon which was built a diverse skill set.

These living skill gatherings helped spawn the creation of the Society of Primitive Technology in 1991, which we support wholeheartedly and have contributed articles to the bi-annual Bulletin of Primitive Technology.

We also contributed a chapter on "Whole Shoot Willow Basketry" in the book WOODSMOKE: Collected Writings on Ancient Living Skills (1994).

Another aspect of this craft is replicating items for display in museum settings.

See the Museum Exhibits page for more information.

Our patrons include:

• the Grace Hudson Sun House Museum in Ukiah
• the Maidu Interpretive Center in Roseville
• the Marin Museum of the American Indian in Novato
• the Univ of Oregon Museum of Natural History in Eugene, OR

Tamara Wilder

Tamara has been learning, researching, experminenting with and teaching ancient living skills since 1989.

She currently offers a 4hr to 1 day hands-on Ancient Living Skills Overview Programs for schools and home school groups all around Northern California.

These programs vary depending on the interest and age level of the group but usually include quite a bit of hands-on activity and are well received by both the teachers and students alike.

Look at the school programs page for more info.

Current locales for workshops and programs include the Pt Reyes National Seashore Assn (PRNSA) in Pt Reyes, Occidental Arts & Ecology Center (OAEC) in Occidental, CA School of Herbal Studies in Forestville, the Northern California Women's Herbal Symposium in Laytonville, the Solar Living Institute in Hopland, Polcum Springs in Laytonville, The Mendocino Art Center in Mendocino, MAPOM Old Ways Seminar Series at Pt. Reyes National Seashore. Look at the program topics page for a descripton of various subjects or at the scheduled classes page for a current schedule.

Other locales of past workshops & presentations include New College of California in Santa Rosa, the California Academy of Sciences Junior Academy Program in San Francisco, The Caning Shop in Berkeley, Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont, and Ancient Arts & Technologies in Alsea, OR.

Tamara also demonstrates many of these skills at a variety of fairs and for groups, schools, museums and "living pre-history" events.

These skills often include replicating artifacts so that the public can better understand the processes by which they were produced as well as have the opportunity to handle and touch a particular item.

Past & current demonstation locations include:

• the Maidu Interpretive Center in Roseville,
• the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco
• the Oregon Country Fair in Veneta, OR
• the Marin Museum of the American Indian in Novato
• and the Suislaw & Willamette National Forests in Eugene, OR.

Look at the schedule for a list of fairs or events on the agenda or look at the program topics page if you are interested in information on sponsoring a demonstration.

Fairs and classes provide a venue to sell handicrafts, a selection of tools, and recommended books and videos, many of which are self authored or written by friends and/or colleagues.

See the catalog for a complete list and the fairs/demos page for a list of scheduled fairs.

Steven Edholm

He originally started assisting Margaret Mathewson and teaching for the Santa Cruz Mountians Natural History Assn (SCMNHA) Old Ways Seminar Series in Felton and MAPOM California Indian Living Skills Seminar Series at Pt. Reyes National Seashore in 1988 and continued to teach workshops for a number of years.

His current writings on a variety of projects and topics can be found at his Turkeysong blog

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