Sunday, April 10, 2011

The Trappers Convention -- North Bay

Earth Tracks teamed up with our good friends at Sticks and Stones Wilderness School and set up a booth at the annual Trappers Convention in Nort
h Bay last weekend. We had an amazing time, met some great new people and shared many conversations with the good folks.

There was an incredible amount of knowledge, skill and wisdom in the building and you couldn't help but feel connected to the many people who have spent their entire lives in the bush and on the land. This heritage stretches back many generations to when my ancestors first travelled to this new land and there have been many changes over the years. There were some great booths set up by the many different trappers councils from across Ontario and many people more than willing to share what they have learned over the years and help to pass this legacy on to future generations. Trapping is often misunderstood by the general public these days and this convention is good chance to meet the 'real' people who are acting as stewards of the land.

The weekend was full of demonstrations and workshops put on by various people from across Ontario. We taught two Brain-Tanned Buckskin Making workshops that were very well received and allowed us to meet and talk with many of the people who came to the show that we may have not had a chance to meet otherwise. I thank everyone who came out to the convention as well as all of the hard work that went into organizing this event. We look forward to being here again next year.

Happy Tanning

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