Sewing
with Fish Skin
PASSED DOWN FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION, skin sewing has been used to make everything from canoes to baskets and waterskins.
After moving to Sitka in 2013 from Bethel, Alaska, Karen McIntyre had no idea she would soon be taking fish skin sewing classes, let alone teaching them. Inspired by the fish skin artifacts housed at the Sheldon Jackson Museum, Karen took classes through the Sitka Fine Arts Camp and soon fell in love with the ancient Alaska Native tradition.
Fish skin sewing is a delicate process that involves scraping the scales and flesh off the fish before willow tanning the cleaned skin in a salt and freshwater solution. After multiple soaks, the skin is ready to be stretched, dried, and oiled before it can be sewn into garments, baskets, or jewelry.
“ Fish skin sewing has made me feel more connected to my Yup’ ik heritage,” says Karen. Mentored by Athabaskan skin sewing expert Audrey Armstrong, Karen has found that sewing gives her time to remember and honor her ancestors by not letting any part of an animal go to waste.
“ Depending on the season and the species of fish, the colors and striations of the skin change as well. I’ m always in awe of the intricacies I find in the sewing process,” she explains. Karen continues to share her enthusiasm and knowledge of skin sewing through the classes she teaches at the Sitka Fine Arts Camp. Visitors can view the fish skin artifacts that inspired Karen to start sewing at the Sheldon Jackson Museum, which showcases a beautiful and diverse collection of cultural and historical Alaskan objects.
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