North House Folk School

Jeff Harper, Leech Lake Ojibwe from Cass Lake, Minnesota, has been tanning hides for over a decade since learning from elders on the Leech Lake Reservation.  He nets fish, hunts deer, harvests manoomin, makes maple syrup, and lives the good life with his wife and kids in Gaa-zagaskwaajimekaag (Leech Lake Reservation).  He practices many crafts, including tanning, sewing, basket making, finger weaving, beading and more, and has a growing collection of blacksmithing equipment to feed his forging habit.  He also teaches damascus knife making and blacksmithing at various schools in Minnesota.