All natural, smoked, brain-tanned buckskin leather: Deer, Elk, Moose, and Caribou.

 - Natural Rawhide - Hand Drums - Skulls and European Mounts - Buffalo Robes.

Custom tanning made to order.

PayPal accepted.

Hello, and welcome. My name is Carl Froese and I am a licensed tanner based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. At Manitoba Buckskin, we make wildlife rawhide and leather by hand with all natural, non-toxic materials. We work primarily with Whitetail Deer, Elk, Moose, Caribou, and Bison hides.  Furs are accepted on a custom order basis only. We use both wet and dry scrape methods to make the buckskin leather, and smoke the hides over red oak and cedar.

 I have learned from many elders, teachers, and tanners the traditional and natural ways to work with animal hides, and it is with thanks and respect I honour their generations of knowledge, and the animals we share the earth with.

We have provided many satisfied customers across North America and the World with soft buckskin leather and natural rawhide for many uses including water drums, garment leather, pipe bags, moccasins, porcupine quill and beadwork, pow wow regalia, quivers, drums, snowshoes, and more....

A History of Tradition

Brain tanned buckskin leather is soft, strong, and durable. The finished natural leather retains the same strength and integrity as when it was living skin.   Buckskin leather has been made and used for as long as people have been wearing animals. It was for many people in the past, the only garment textile. Using  hides for shelter and clothing bound cultures and communities together with the animals  that sustained them. 

 In many North American Aboriginal cultures, tanning hides was traditionally women's work, and it is with honour and great respect we acknowledge  the enormous strength and endurance of generations of women who provided clothing and shelter for their communities. The Buckskin leather we make at Manitoba Buckskin follows the same processes as it was made a thousand years ago, in a modern environment. 

Tanning Background

I have been learning and practicing the art of making all natural braintan buckskin for nine years. I began while living near Whitehorse, Yukon, working over the winter of '96 with a local wildlife fur and leather tanner at his shop, Tutshi Tanning. There I became acquainted with the outer portion of just about every creature on four legs that moves over this fair land.

I brought my skills and interest back home to Manitoba where deer are abundant and  buffalo roam and practiced to develop proficiency in the natural braintan method. I fully dedicated myself to this ancient art full-time in November 2004. Using all natural materials, I have spent years perfecting my process the hard way, gaining experience through patience and persistence, always learning and always looking for ways to improve my techniques. Many thanks to braintan.com for insight, encouragement, and assistance.

Respecting Our Environment

Having always had an affinity for our forest cousins, I honour and respect the hunted animal by utilizing the hides which are otherwise often discarded.

We use natural methods and processes that do not pollute or poison the land, air, or water.  We support local Wildlife Associations to maintain and preserve the necessary habitat of our resident deer population.