SUpport Indigenous HIde Tanning Learning

About Fern + Roe Tannery’s Indigenous Sponsorship Program

This program is open to any member of an Indigenous community (see below) in the western hemisphere who wishes to learn hide tanning and develop their tanning practice, and who faces financial barriers.

We do not teach culturally Indigenous ways or techniques of hide tanning (see our ‘About’ and FAQs sections). For culturally-specific hide tanning instruction we recommend our friend and Hide Club Auntie Adele Maskwa Iskwew Arseneau, based on Vancouver Island. Fern + Roe programs are run by Mara Cur and co-facilitated by Mark Santamaria and a host of guest guides, all of whom strive to offer hide tanning education in a culturally supportive and integral manner.

The next open program with sponsored spots is Hide Club: MINI - the Bark-tanning Program 2025, which runs Oct-Nov 2025.

A sponsored spot is for you if:

  • You have current kinship ties and/or membership in an Indigenous community in the western hemisphere

  • The cost of the course/program is a barrier to you

  • You want to learn hide tanning with us + you can commit to the full length of the course or program

A sponsored spot is not for you if:

  • You have way-back Indigenous ancestry and do not have current kinship ties

  • You are able to pay for the full cost of the course or program and/or have access to funding

  • You aren’t able to commit to the full length of the course or program

If you are Métis, we ask that you have membership in your local provincial society. If you are unsure, then this sponsored spot is not for you at this time. The guidelines here may be helpful.  This is by the Manitoba Métis Federation.

If you choose a sponsored spot, please treat the course or program the same as you would if you had paid full price.

Please note, we do not offer refunds for course programs.

Thank you for joining us.

donate to The Sponsorship Program

For 11 seasons of hide tanning, we have offered free and at-cost education to Indigenous learners. As Fern + Roe grows, we've had to create waitlists or say no to learners more often than we'd like.

We are now extending out to our broader community to invite support. As we continue to offer free and at-cost education, this donation system will support F+R beyond what we can share alone.

3% Cover the Fee

Donate to Fern + Roe's Sponsorship Program. All funds accepted will go towards free education + materials for Indigenous learners.

If you are a non-Indigenous person looking to directly support an Indigenous organization, we recommend the WSANEC Leadership Council’s list of local organizations and its Lands Trust, the Victoria Native Friendship Centre, the Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness, and the Residential School Survivor Fund.

In deep gratitude to our mentors and guides who have helped shaped the sponsorship system at Fern + Roe.