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1@ 22, 2023 | 38 TB NATIONAL INDIGENOUS HISTORY MONTH FORMER YOUTH CHIEF FOCUSING ON LEARNING HIDE TANNING 2 AFTER A BRIEF STINT IN LOCAL POLITICS, S TERRA ROY, 21, HAS GONE BACK TO HER 2 ROOTS AND IMMERSED HERSELF IN INDIGENOUS CULTURE ANDREW MENDLER q amendler@simcoe.com ° _Incelebration of National Indigenous History Month, Metroland introduces read- ers to 30 Indigenous people who are making a difference. rra Roy, a multimedia artist and former Beausoleil First Nation Youth Chief, is learning the ancient art of brain The 21-y ear-old was in- troduced to the traditional tanning method by a group of friends in January 2019 while working to launch the Georgian Bay Two-Spirit Pow Wow. She was at a friend's house in Tiny Town- ship and began fleshing a moose hide — the process of removing any leftover fat and tissue. € 8 : 3 £& “It must have been mus- cle memory or blood memo- ry, because I stood outside where my love for hide work really began," said Roy, whose Anishinaabe name is and turn it into something desirable." For the past three years, Roy has been apprenticing with Niizh Manidook Hide Tanning Camp and learning everything there is to know about brain tanning de hide. in Brain tanning is tradi- tional tanning method us- ing the emulsifying agents Terra Terra Roy, former Youth Chief for Beausoleil First Nation, is a hide tanner and artist. in brain matter to break down the mucous mem- branes that cause animal hides to harden. The process is tedious. It involves skinning and flesh- ing, a soaking, graining, raning, wringing, braining, softening and ra Roy photo smoking. The brain tanning of one hide takes Roy about a week to complete. Although modern tan- ning methods in factories using chemical baths have largely replaced brain tan- ning, Roy is learning the process to help ensure the START PLANNING YOUR VISIT! Visit traditional method carries e We have to practise (tra- ditional methods). If we don't practise them, we won't have them," said Roy, who is among a group of lo- cal Indigenous youth work- ing to keep the culture alive. "In my experience, there have always been Indige- nous youth who want to keep the culture alive, who want to keep these tradi- "A lot of my art recently has been discussing my re- lationship with hide tan- ning and hunting," she said. "It is really inspired by the local plant life and live expe- riences." Even though she's only 21, she's had already lived through a variety of unique experiences. Roy spent the first eight years. life living on Nipissing First Nation be- fore moving to Barrie. At age 14, she moved to Beauso- First Nation and lived on. Christian Island until age 18. During her stint on Christian Island, she worked to try and bring an Furst Nation Youth oon cant even part of the planning saichanache I was just supporting them get the ball rolling for their youth programming ant ing what I could to fan Ma Roy said. “Tt was a very unique op- portunity. It opened up a lot of doors for me."