Welcome to Ponca Tannery

Leather hide tanning is both an art and a science. The Ponca tribe has taken the best of the brain tanning art tradition and added today’s business acumen to develop the Ponca Tannery – a facility that turns the hides of cattle, deer, moose, bison, elk – all large game animals – into a velvety buckskin or rawhide with many uses.

Bison are a part of the history of this country – and particularly the native American population. Historically, the Ponca – much like other midwestern tribes – depended on the bison for 80% or more of their sustenance from food and clothing to housing and drum heads. The Ponca understand the importance and value of preserving this piece of history and for tapping into the folklore and legend connections it represents for coming generations. As an outgrowth of our effort to build and maintain a herd of American bison on the plains of the Midwest, we have established the Ponca Tannery offering expert tanning services as well as unique products and pieces of art. Click here to see our Store.

Read Indian Country’s article about the Ponca Tannery’s exciting reopening here.