Seven Teachings Art Collective - STAC

Seven Teachings Art Collective - STAC Indigenous-run art collective offering free art programming in Winnipeg, MB, Canada. Target audience: Indigenous folks of all ages.

Non-Indigenous allies welcomed. Co-founders: (RR Métis) Nichol Marsch and (Mixed Dakota, Ojibway, settler) Jessie Jannuska.

STAC Hide Camp 2025, photo dump. 🩵A huge thank you going out to everyone who attended and helped make the hide camp so s...
04/07/2025

STAC Hide Camp 2025, photo dump. 🩵
A huge thank you going out to everyone who attended and helped make the hide camp so special. Big thanks to Grace, Eli, Chastity, John, Nichol, Val, Denim, Barb, Deborah, Debbie, Christine, Eleanor, Loni, Becca, Felicity, Janelle Jason, Ginger, Brenda, Nichelle, Fontine, Nipawi Wapuskowi Iskwew, and everyone who helped out at the camp. 🎊
A final very special thanks to our sponsor Home Hardware Building Centre in Brandon, MB for supplying wood and gloves. This greatly helped the camp to run smooth.
And last but not least, a huge thank you to Manitoba Arts Council / Conseil des arts du Manitoba for making the gathering possible.

04/04/2025

💛*STAC Hide Camp Update, Day 4/5.* 🧡
This camp has been such a blessing. Everything has been going so smoothly. The HIDE SMOKING DEMO and WRINGING/SOFTENING out of the brained hide from today will start at 10 AM tomorrow.
I'm looking forward to the day long free BEADING WORKSHOP tomorrow from 10:30/11 AM - 3 PM. We will be joined by members from the Brandon University Beading Babes group. Feel free to bring your beading projects. Jess will be on site teaching new beaders. Beading supplies provided. Beading project options include - simple felt red dress pin, and bead your own design or supplied pattern (single needle flat stitch). Detailed beading instruction booklets on site while supplies last.
COMMUNITY POTLUCK is tomorrow at 1:30 PM. (*time moved up*)
Ideas for what to bring:
Bannock, fruit trays, veggies trays, desserts, chips, pastries, sandwiches, soup etc. is welcome.
REMEMBER to bring your rubber boots as it's very muddy/icy, dress for the weather, and bring your lawn chairs. Only so many people fit inside comfortably.
See you tomorrow! 💛🩵

04/02/2025

*STAC Hide Camp Update, Day 3/5:* The Willow Creek road to get in and out of the Hide Camp is getting very rough. For tomorrow, my husband John will be shuttling people in and out of the camp for anyone that wants a ride. We do NOT advise small cars attempt to use this road. Smaller vehicles and vans please park off to one side.
The Hide Camp continues to run amazingly. Thank you to everyone who has come out and put in help with volunteering to create a great learning environment. We will continue to work with the elk brains that were donated tomorrow.

04/02/2025

*STAC Hide Camp, Day 2/5 Update:*
Camp is running much more smoothly. I'm overwhelmed with feelings of thankfulness, gratitude, etc. It's very beautiful seeing people out there in their element..learning the hide tanning process from Grace, Eli, and her sister Chastity... all because I wrote a grant and was chosen by MAC to run this for all my relations. 🩵💖😊

04/01/2025

STAC Hide Camp Update, day 1/5: (edited for end of day, and sponsor thank you.) **
Grace and myself please ask when bringing children that you must watch them. I admit I almost fainted several times in the morning. My health is not the greatest. (Diabetes, asthma, etc.) I'm just so grateful to be here sharing this opportunity. There will be consent forms and photo release forms on site tomorrow. I am making art about Grace with the documentation of this event. I won't make this a child-free event because kids/youth need to be here to heal and learn from Grace. ❤️
ALL sweat lodge areas need to be respected with no ceremonial items disturbed. Thank you to everyone that attended day 1. It was such a great day! ☺️

A big shout out to STAC's generous sponsor - Brandon Home Hardware Building Centre. Thank you Trevor (Owner Operator) for the wood and work gloves. We are all super grateful. Thank you to Jason Hyricuk for helping with this connection. 🙏

🧡*STAC Hide Camp --final pre-event post* 🧡Location, maps, and signs update. Please email: seventeachingsartcollective@o...
03/31/2025

🧡*STAC Hide Camp --final pre-event post* 🧡
Location, maps, and signs update.
Please email: [email protected] for my personal/work cell # if you don't have it yet. Keep checking your emails, please.
Event is located at WILLOW CREEK turnoff. Watch for J&J billboard, and our 3 direction signs we have put up. There will be someone there to help drive people into the event in my suv. Volunteers may still be needed for parking help.
We can't wait to see you all tomorrow!! 💛💛🧡🧡

Hide camp prep is underway! This is one of the moose we will be working on, on Monday. 🧡🧡STAC Hide Camp 2025 is one more...
03/30/2025

Hide camp prep is underway! This is one of the moose we will be working on, on Monday. 🧡🧡
STAC Hide Camp 2025 is one more sleep away! Spots are still available for Indigenous folks..with special access to IRS Survivors, 60s scoop survivors, Day school Survivors, intergenerational Survivors, and family. Please email: [email protected] to join us.

🌿 HIDE CAMP COMMUNITY POTLUCK – JOIN US! 🌿We’re inviting all participants and community members to come together for a C...
03/28/2025

🌿 HIDE CAMP COMMUNITY POTLUCK – JOIN US! 🌿

We’re inviting all participants and community members to come together for a Community Potluck at The Hide camp!

📅 Tuesday, April 1st @ 3:30 PM
📅 Friday, April 4th @ 1:30 PM (*time changed)

Let’s share a meal and build community! If you’re able, please bring a dish to share—whether it’s a homemade favorite or a simple snack, every contribution helps make our gathering more special!

We’re also accepting donations of sandwiches, pastries, fruit, water (jugs or bottled), breakfast sausages, Oatmeal, oat or almond milk jugs, bannock, jam, margarine, small propane tanks, instant coffee, coffee whitener, sweetner, sugar, and tea throughout the week. If you’d like to help, please drop off items at the camp location by 11:30 AM.

Your support makes a difference—let’s come together to nourish both body and spirit! 💛
-Val Sandy (Head Volunteer)

03/26/2025

🧡🧡**Important Hide Camp Update.**🧡🧡
ISO (In search of):
1. -A generator to rent for a reasonably priced honorarium in exchange. Or we can pay gas if someone gives a proper tutorial to all helpers/volunteers in attendance. Bonus if you plan to attend the whole camp and will be able to help should an issue arise and can bring receipts for gas for repayment.

2. -A RELIABLE paid volunteer assistant position is currently open for Jess and Nichol (STAC co-founders). You must be able to attend all 5 days. Duties will include but not limited to:
- help Jess make announcements if we cannot find a megaphone for jessie to borrow.. She is loosing her voice from overuse.
-be able to enforce the strict 3-Strike hide camp general rules applied to everything. A working knowledge of Indigenous teachings/beliefs is an asset.
-be 18+ years old.
-MUST be sober for the entire event. No questions asked. Clean Drivers license abstract and access to a reliable car preferred. No questions asked.
-MUST be able to supply a recent clean criminal record check and child abuse registry check. (IF ASKED)
***-Be a fast communicator, and quick problem solver. MUST have a strong willingness/understanding/ability to respect ALL helpers, staff, elders, knowledge keepers, 60s scoop survivors, IRS Survivors, and their families. No questions asked. The respect these individuals require and their healing experience at the hide camp event is of the utmost importance to STAC.***
-Be able to supply 3 references that are not family members, or close friends. That Jess/Nichol will call and check.
-Volunteer honorarium is negotiable. Individual must understand we are on a limited budget. Jess/Nichol can be used as a reference for future employment opportunities.
-BIPOC young adult preferred but open to any allies applying to this position. Folks already volunteering have a higher chance of receiving this paid volunteer position.
-Please supply a resume and cover letter detailing your strengths. Serious inquiries only..
Email to: [email protected] if you can help STAC out. 🧡

3. ALL catering and community meal times information to be posted soon. A huge thank you going out to STAC's head volunteer/friend ES VS for all of their help on this. Approved food donation/potluck list to be posted soon. Due to limited budgeting and time left - ALL vegan, and vegetarian options are left up to the discretion of all folks planning on attending the hide camp. Staff snacks to be covered by STAC while supplies last.

4. Approved list of things to bring/donate and tips on how to pack/dress. Coming soon. Kids coloring and activity table is planned. Prizes for the event that cater to folks of all ages have been purchased and will be gifted out over the duration of the camp. Big STAC giveaway to occur on Friday (April 4th, 10 - 3pm), day 5, of the Hide Camp at the free day-long beading workshop. Beading workshop to be led by Jessie and Brandon University Beading Babes group. No beading experience required or age restrictions. Volunteers still needed at these stations.

Wopida, Miigwech, everyone! 5 more days until the STAC Hide camp begins. ❤️🧡
-Jess
(STAC co-founder, main event organizer)

🧡 **Beading Workshop Info:**🧡Day 5, (April 4th) of the Hide Camp is currently planned for smoking of the moose hide(s). ...
03/22/2025

🧡 **Beading Workshop Info:**🧡
Day 5, (April 4th) of the Hide Camp is currently planned for smoking of the moose hide(s). Day 5 will have a lot of down time. Participants of the camp are encouraged to sit and visit with organizer Jessie, any staff/helpers, and the Brandon University Beading Babes group for the duration of the day. We will bead outside from 10 AM - 3 PM (weather pending). Never beaded before? Jessie will gladly teach you. :)
Free beading supplies and beading instruction booklets will be on hand with some beading project kits that will be available for handout during the week for those who cannot join us for the Day 5 Beading Workshop session. Please feel free to bring your own Beading projects to work on. Don't forget your folding chairs, and a blanket to bundle up! Have an extra folding table to bring? Let Jessie know.

**Important Note: Here's some of the beading templates so far that will be available to choose from at the beading workshop. At the workshop Jessie will speak about a group beaded piece that she has been creating with the BU Beading Babes over the last several months for an art show. Hide camp participants are encouraged to donate one beaded piece to the group art work that will show in an upcoming art show of Jessie's. This is appreciated but not mandatory.
**IMPORTANT note:**
Introductions and beaded pieces show and tell, will occur at the beading workshop. Please ask pass if you wish to not speak or introduce yourself. No pressure. 😊
We look forward to beading with you! 🧡🧡
-Jess

**REGISTRATION IS NOW PAUSED.** 🧡🧡Are you interested in learning how to tan a hide traditionally? Come out and learn at ...
03/19/2025

**REGISTRATION IS NOW PAUSED.** 🧡🧡
Are you interested in learning how to tan a hide traditionally? Come out and learn at our free Hide Camp! This 5-day hide camp is being taught by land-based teacher Grace Masse and her son Isaiah.
Dates: Over spring break, March 31st - April 4th, 2025
Time: 10 - 3 PM daily. Cost: Free
Location: Low road to Shilo. Willow creek access. Amahpiya Dowan Mani cultural site.
**(Updated)**General info for the event is lower down on this post.*
**Hide Camp schedule now posted!**
Please register by emailing me (Jessie, the event organizer) at: [email protected]
Don't hesitate to sign up! Registration is filling quickly.
More info about the Seven Teachings Art Collective (STAC) is available on our Instagram at . STAC offers free art programming to Indigenous folks of all ages in Downtown Winnipeg at two different locations: MAWA and Pitikwé Skatepark. Non-Indigenous allies are welcome to join.
This project has been generously funded by the Manitoba Arts Council / Conseil des arts du Manitoba
------------
Hide Camp General Info: (Updated)
**5-day Hide Camp Schedule:
Day 1 (March 31st) - Framing and Fleshing. How to skin a hide.
Day 2 (April 1st) - Hair Scraping and finishing fleshing
Day 3 (April 2nd) - Brain Soaking and softening
Day 4 (April 3rd) - Softening
Day 5 (April 4th) - Smoking of Hide. Free Beading Workshop with Jessie and Debbie
Time: 10 am-3 pm daily.
**Location: Low road to Shilo. Willow Creek Access. Amahpiya Dowan Mani cultural site.
You are welcome to attend all 5-days if registration space allows. Registration for certain days will be subject to closing due to the amazing amount of interest we are receiving. Registration is first come, first served.
**For elders, knowledge keepers, Residential School survivors, and 60's scoop survivors, intergenerational survivors - please email as we would like to try and accommodate you for any day of the event.
The building of the different hide stations will be done as needed (ex. Smoking station, and Softening station). We will be working on moose hides at different stages of completion. Note- If you cannot come for all 5 days you can come on days 2, 3, and 4 and still work on earlier stages of the process. Day 5 is currently only planned for smoking. The weather and the speed of working on the hides can change the schedule. When registering please include a contact number, names, ages of child/youth participants, and indicate what days you plan on attending.
**Transportation and Parking: Unfortunately, transportation help to and from the location is not offered due to limited funding. Parking can be limited at the cultural site (roughly 10 cars) and is first come first serve. Parking on the highway and walking into the site will be needed if/when parking gets overloaded. Please exercise caution when doing so.
**Camp Etiquette, Safety, Forms, and What to Bring:
We will be working outdoors at the hide camp so please dress accordingly. Expect muddiness and wear/bring layers. Bring rubber boots/outdoor boots, work gloves, a toque, hand sanitizer, and a folding chair. Do not wear your best clothing as the hides smell strongly, and it will be messy/bloody. The bathroom is an outhouse. There will be a first aid kit on hand. Working on hides is labour-intensive. Make sure you take breaks as needed and stay hydrated. The hide camp is not pet-friendly so we ask no dogs be brought to the site. Rain will not cancel the event with plans to build a tarp structure to work under.
We will have stew, snacks, and drinks there. Feel free to bring your own food or food you would like to share with the group. Please bring your feast bag. A feast bag typically includes a reusable cup, bowl, plate, and utensils. We hope to cut down on paper plate use. Jessie will have some extra paper plates, bowls, and utensils on hand for people. Please respect the cultural site by cleaning up after yourselves as others use this area.
The tools we will be working with are incredibly sharp. There will be axes, drills, skinning knives, a skill saw, ulu, and chainsaw on site. The ulu that will be coming can rip through moose flesh without barely touching it. It's important to respect Grace's tools and her generosity in allowing us to use her expensive specialized tools.
Safety is of utmost importance to us. You are welcome to bring children ages 4+, but all children and teens must be accompanied. Please be mindful that we are not there to watch any children/teens. Children/teens must be supervised when near the tools. We have had a large volume of requests for people wanting to bring unsupervised children/youth. The cultural site is in a wooded area, with a creek close by at thawing season. With our concerns for children/youth safety with the tools, and location we will have consent forms to be filled out. My apologies to families that are familiar with the site. Thank you for your understanding.
FAQ:
Can i bring my own hide?
We have been receiving multiple requests for people wanting to bring their own hides to work on. With limited space we please ask for no extra hides to be brought. We are glad you are excited to learn the steps and will be showing the full process. Please feel free to bring pictures to show Grace and ask her questions.
Can i volunteer?
Yes, we welcome volunteers with various things needing help. There will be many tasks around the camp that can be helped with (ex. building structures, boiling water, cooking over a fire/hot plate, offering elders food/drinks first, and requests as Grace needs to help run the camp/teach.) Some tasks will need brute strength. Folks can struggle to find the cultural site for the first time. Volunteers are needed to help guide people to the site. If anyone has a propane hot plate to bring to help us cook outdoors please email Jessie. Every adult in attendance can help Jessie/Grace by keeping a watch over the tools and safety of kids/youth around the sharp knives, and ulu, etc. Every youth/child will be accompanied and watched near the tools, but if we want to run the camp again in the future we have to work together to help create a safe environment for everyone.
Can I bring a meal/dishes to share?
Yes for sure. Just let Jessie know if bringing a large volume of food. Extra bottled water, bottled drinks, tea, or coffee to share with the group is appreciated. Jessie will have bottled water and gatorade on hand until it runs out. If we can boil water consistenly (lol), Jessie will have tea/coffee available. Bannock is very welcome. lol
**Message from organizer:
I'm excited to see the full hide tanning process from start to finish for the first time. I'm grateful for the funding from the Manitoba Arts Council to host this hide camp and share the learning opportunity with others. Another big thank you to the Brandon University Indigenous Peoples' Centre for help in sponsoring the free beading workshop on the final day. Beading Project kits will be available to take during the camp as supplies last. More info on that to come. We hope to create a great healing and learning environment for everyone in attendance. In the future, I hope to try and run a free hide camp again after receiving such a great response. With dreams of it becoming a yearly tradition that can be passed on to others. With respect to the cultural site, this is a drug and alcohol-free event. Thank you for everyone's patience as I work my way through the email backlog. For people needing to adjust the days you are attending with the new schedule, please email. We look forward to meeting you. 🙂
-Jessie
Please email to register at: [email protected]

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Winnipeg, MB

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