This session will delve into the connection between the human animal and the rest of the natural life-death-life cycle. We are all inescapably linked to the food web. As omnivores, humans have an abundance of choices about how we connect to that natural web. 

The choice to connect directly as an omnivorous meso-predator opens the door to a sacred practice of balancing ethics and survival, of facing death and reconciliation with its place in the food web. As animals our life-sustaining practice has within it a cost of the life of another being, animal, vegetable, or both.

The hunter's mindset is a sacred right of humankind, that can be accessed through an openness to the Gaian mind. To serve us best it must be nurtured, understood, and cultivated carefully. 

Share some time laughing and learning the time honored skills of Manoomin/ Wild Rice workings. They will be sharing pole and knockers working and doing processing demos. Roger is the Wild Rice Chief of Michigan. SO HAPPY to have them back. 

Learn the basics of how to notice, recognize, and tell stories about the tracks, scat, and other sign that other animals leave behind. Tracking is ancestral to all humans and a natural behavior in us all that can helps us connect with and have understanding of our ecosystems and our place in them. We will learn about track morphology, animal behavior, tracking techniques, and how to practice using our senses.

In this 3 hour class we will learn how to naturally dye with plants, using the bundle dye method. Using food waste, native plants and other natural dye materials, we will create beautiful, vibrant patterns and prints on a silk bandana. We will also discuss methods of preparing different fibers for dye (mordanting), how to create a dye bath, and methods of shifting colors using various minerals and plant tannins. You will leave with a completely unique, wearable work of art. Up to 20 participants. $10 materials fee. 

In this workshop, we will explore the roots of the socioecological crisis in our species move away from subsistence lifeways. We will discuss the impacts of civilization, domestication, sedentism, and agriculture with a particular emphasis on their roles in generating cultural trauma. Participants will walk away with a deeper understanding of the history of civilization, cultural trauma theories, and the role of healing in human rewilding. 

Dating back to the early Iron Age, card woven bands were used to create the starting and selvedge bands for warp-weighted looms. Decorative bands are also added to woven textiles along the hem line, and as belts and straps. In this class we will create bands approx ⅜-¾” wide and 24”-36” long. Students will have a variety of patterns to choose from. By the end of class, students will have the understanding, skills, and resources to continue band weaving at home. Material fee $10. Cards used in class will be available for purchase $15 for a 25 card set. 

Spend some time with our long-eared friend Olga. You will have the opportunity to experience hands-on grooming and harnessing while learning about the uniqueness of our honest friends! We will top off the experience with a wagon ride around Tillers'  beautiful farm!

As the sun sinks low, come drop into your body and notice your breath, your legs, and your feet on the earth. Let's slow down and really feel each step we take. I will bring my background of real-world hunting into a realm of play. We will practice "fox walking" as well as a few other stalking techniques and then put them into practice with a big group stalking game. Let's feel our feet, deeply listen, move slowly, and tune into our intuition.

Learn the ancient technique of stick/ shillelagh combat. 

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Taught by masters!

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This is a one on one style lesson - Will be great fun!

Get familiar with the back end of meat consumption.

We will humanly dispatch 3-4 chickens and learn how to process these wonderful creatures to create nourishing meals. 

Creating and tending fire is one of the most uniquely human things there is. I feel that getting closer to fire by starting it in this ancient way re-connects us to nature, our ancestors, our bodies, community, and ourselves. Come feel this joy and re-connection and spin a fire into existence with just a few sticks and a stone.

I will start with a demo and go over some fundamentals. Then, everyone can grab a set and play with it themselves. Most of this class will be a "bow drill open mat" where you can learn hands-on with some coaching. Bow drill sets will be provided and for sale at the end of class.

Please bring a knife if you have one!

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We will discuss how and why humans have used and developed a variety of archery tools and techniques. And offer time for participants to try them out, with guides coaching for those who want it.

Wooden long bows, wooden recurve bows, compound bows and even a cross bow, that can be set up for a supervised class in addition to the existing open archery range. 

Learn to:

Identify elements of successful & unsuccessful deaths and successful & unsuccessful mourning.

• Compare and contrast the needs of the dying with the needs of the living.

• Brainstorm ways to meet the needs of both dying and living.

• Create a "mourning" cairn and a ceremony that addresses those needs.

• Participate in the ceremony.

Please bring a chair, paper/journal, writing tools, and drinking water.

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Please note: Designed for 18 years old plus, this workshop addresses the intersecting needs of the dying and the living and includes actively mourning a loss; participants may express strong emotions via crying/yelling,etc. 

Please note: This workshop builds on the Successful Death workshop and is open only to those who have completed that workshop.

Learn to:

• Identify a soul wound, including our own.

• Track its progression from original wound to resolution.

• Identify 3 to 6 methods of easing soul wound trauma.

• Locate resources to deal with soul wound trauma.

• Recognize when you've become enmeshed in someone else's soul wound trauma.

• Identify ways to extricate yourself.

• Categorize Ghost Pains.

• Participate in a ceremony to heal soul wound trauma across the veil.

Please bring a chair, paper/journal, writing tools, drinking water, and a small snack (one or two small bites) for the ceremony.

Learn how to support yourself or others to work with herbal medicines such as salves and teas in order to prepare for and recover from gender affirming and other kinds of surgeries. Discuss the level of mutual aid and care needed to get someone through a surgery so that those receiving surgeries or supporting others are more equipped for this journey. Demonstrate how salves helped the instructor recover from and take care of their own surgery incisions. This offering at Lake Superior Traditional Ways Gathering brought together bodyworkers, herbalists, and wes

We will each craft our own hunters amulet or talisman. While crafting these, from various natural materials, we will talk about the sacred practice that is hunting.

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Fee- $5

We plan to highlight Janie's Mill (Ashkum, IL) organically grown, and milled on farm grains for pasta making.  We will demonstrate traditional pasta making focused on whole grains and specialty grains along with finishing some pasta dishes to showcase the flavors and options for ready to serve meal ideas.   

Spend a few hours learning the basics of our powerful draft horses, from grooming and care to harnessing to a wagon for a ride around Tillers' beautiful farm! You might even get a chance to drive these amazing animals! 

Students will use broomcorn to make a turkey wing style whisk and if time allows we will plait the handles. 

​These brooms are a must have in your cleaning arensal. 

 We will discuss basic first aid kit items, and what foraged or home grown items work well in your home first aid kit.  See examples of a few different sized kits (home, car, hiking.) Attendees who pay the materials fee of $15 can make and take home a first aid kit.

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​Students will use a single bundle of broomcorn to make a flat stitched whisk and a small pot scrubber. This class will not include plaiting as flat stitching takes quite a while for beginners 

ON-GOING Class throughout the weekend will learn how to use the shaving horses  (wooden benches not horses :) to carve your own set of ricing sticks and parching paddle. 

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THRILLED to have Roger and Cortney back!

This class will go through how to safely handle knives, techniques on notching, and strokes. ​

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This class is perfect for small folks and those who want to be more comfortable wielding the all important tool... the KNIFE

Oxen are a practical alternative to tractors on a small farm or in a woodlot, and they’re a heck of a lot of fun, too. In this half day session, you’ll quickly learn the three basic ways teamsters communicate with a team of oxen; then we’ll yoke up a team or two and put them to work. Even if you’ve never worked with cattle before, you’ll be impressed at how much communication you can share with a team and how responsive they can be. 

Jamie will go over basic and French braid techniques. 

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Kid Friendly!

She will also have yarn to practice on. 

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Wonderful way to kick off a weekend of sleeping in the woods and learning protective hairstyles to help hair grow longer and stronger. 

In this class I will provide information and history into a handful of divination techniques. I will provide examples of activities someone can do in their daily life to work on honing in their intuition and knowing. We will do a group activity and lesson on learning what type of clairvoyant powers the students possess. There will also be a charm kit building session where I provide a selection of charms and trinkets that can be used to start divining on their own. Each student will have the opportunity to leave the class with the starts of a charm set. I will be showing each student one on one experience of a charm reading given by me. During this time I will also have a selection of books from my personal library the other students can browse through pertaining to the class subject.

Fee- $25 for Charm set

Create your own funeral or ceremony to suit your needs and the wishes of your loved one.

Learn to hold a nurturing and healing environment for those present at the transition and funeral.

Covering:

- Washing and preparing the body

- Dressing the body

- Shrouding and moving the body

- Preparing for vigil

- Which supplies are needed

- Local options for environmentally friendly burial

- Legalities in Michigan

- Ceremony and creating your own celebration of life

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Caring for and burying our dead is one of our most ancient ancestral skills.  Creating vessels for burial is an old practice that can be a deeply meaningful experience, especially when done in community. Art can be a powerful way to honor our loved ones and process difficult emotions. Come by the Earthcraft Death Tent throughout the gathering to join in the community weaving of a burial tray and the natural dyeing of a burial shroud.  Both vessels will be made of natural material and can be beautiful options for green burial.  The woven basket and shroud will be used in a home funeral workshop/procession at the end of the weekend.

As an ongoing craft participants willl use wax resist methods to create patterns or messages on the cotton then dyed with plants to create a beautiful shroud in which to dress the body for the mock funeral.

Knitting is found in Egypt around 300 AD.

It comes to Europe around 1400 AD.

We will learn the cast on, knit stitch, and bind off to make garters to hold your socks up. 

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Needles and yarn provided or bring your own!

Naalbinding is an ancient technique for constructing hats, socks and mittens.
It has minimal tools, a needle, and uses short pieces of wool yarn. 

It is a weaving technique that uses your thumb for tensioning.
Construction can be compared to crochet for increases and decreases.

We will be making a small bag to carry your supplies . 

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$20 Supply Fee.

Needle to keep and Wool Included in fee. 

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 Working with locally available, natural materials to make cordage is fundamental to wild crafting - from making baskets, shoes, jewelry, bags, and ropes for numerous purposes.  In this class, you will learn about the history of cordage, including examples from history with a focus on European bronze and iron age sources, and you will learn about raw materials available within our region that can be used to make cordage, and you will get an opportunity to practice making cordage. 

Learn how to make loose incense using locally foraged and traditional materials.  The history of incense will be discussed, and students will have an opportunity to create a blend together to take home.  

Fee- $15

Learn to Attach several types of Points  to a shaft or handle. Arrowheads, knive blades, etc. 

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This will be at the end of the gathering to give students plenty of time to fashion a point in the Knapping Pit!

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ALSO BE COVERING CORDAGE in this session.

 Salves are a basic method of preserving and applying herbal remedies.  In this class we will learn about what herbs work well in salves, when you would use these herbal remedies, how to infuse herbal oils, pros and cons of different oils, and how to turn these into salves.  We will make a salve together in class. (This would require access to a stable table to use a single burner butane stove and double boiler.)

Fee- $3

Leaves and tree bark can be abundant and accessible basketry materials in the world around us. In this workshop, students will learn about what types of bark and leaves are ideal to weave with and how these materials can be sustainably gathered and processed for making beautiful baskets. Each person will leave with their own mini basket. 

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Fee- $15

AGES  5-12

We would start the class discussing various bushcraft survival shelters and the benefits of some over others. We would discuss tool use safety and hike to (or start at) a spot in a wooded area where we can use sticks to build shelters. Kids would also have the opportunity to feel empowered to use "grown up" tools like a saw, axe, whittling knives, etc. 

Material costs- a set of Opanel whittling knives. 4 for $68 but could also do this for less. 

In this class Larissa will discuss and demo a straw bale structure. She and her family recently completed the above home and can help attendees with questions on logistics, laws, and labor of love this incredible technique offers!

Learn this timeless and exciting skill!
 

This will be open to Bows and Atlatls. Bring yours along. 

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Friendly Competitions each day.

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Range will be open multiple sessions during the gatherings.

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Kids encouraged 

Fashion a scratch awl or hatpin. 

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Great all around tool or secret weapon!

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Open Air blacksmithing!

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The discussions are fluid and have no set agenda, allowing participants to share
thoughts on death, legacy, and the life cycle in a safe and supportive space. Whether
you're sharing your insights or simply listening, it’s an opportunity to step back and gain
perspective on how our awareness of life’s limits can shape our actions and values.

This session will provide an introduction to the fundamentals of smithing: basic hammer skills, heat treating, forge welding, and identification of “found” steels. Safety, tools, techniques, and materials will be reviewed. With an anvil for each student, there will be an opportunity for hands-on learning with superb coaching.

Learn the ancient process of taking flint and turning it into an arrowhead. 

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Open Pit.

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Kids hours will be posted. There re many sharp objects so must kids will need adult super vision, 

Plant walk with a pillar of the plant world in this region! Even the seasoned forager will be sure to find out new ways to use the edible landscape. Led by the founder of Great Lakes Foraging Gathering and University of Michigan Biology Lectue

​The history of paper marbling can be traced back to China, Japan, and the Middle East. The technique spread to Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries. Color on water is used to create a glorious effect. Paper will be provided but feel free to bring your own special stash to the workshop. 

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All skills levels! Kids welcome

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Join Mel and Tabitha, NOLS wilderness first aid certified registered nurses, for a day of wild medicine. We will be talking about assessing, stabilizing, and understanding injuries and incidents that happen in the home and on backpacking adventures. We will discuss herbal, mushroom, and homeopathic remedies for treating various conditions from burns, fractures, wounds, shock, and more. In this workshop, you will learn how to care holistically for your family when emergencies happen. Because they do (yep-we are both mothers). We are offering the opportunity to learn to keep yourself calm, treat holistically, and know when to seek higher medical attention.

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 Based off western hermetic and cabalistic principals and philosophy drawing from ancient teaching of the picatrix, Agrippa and The Golden Dawn. Ive been practicing this form of magic for the past 5 years and taught one class at an astrology retreat in 202. , specifically Venus planetary magic. Astrotheurgy is the science of consciously working with the intelligences of the stars, allowing us to break the chains that bind us to karma and fate. In this class I would teach the ancient philosophy of the 7 classical planets and how to control the energy, showing correspondences and rituals used for centuries to work with the planetary energies. I would be bringing in herbs and candles for a class size of 10 max.

During the knowledge share you will dive into the wisdom of the beehive and unfold the relationship humankind has built with the honeybee throughout time, to understand why 100% beeswax is the healthiest wax to burn, to the traditional candle making technique.

Fee-$15 Includes leaving with 2 taper candles.

Our ancestry is a mystery. This class is an invitation to use Breathwork, imagination, talking to plants, earth medicine songs, and discussion to establish connection or healing within your family line. Outcomes of the class might be feeling negativity lift or a sense of clear belonging. You may feel more empowered about your purpose in the chain.