When nature’s bounty gets out of balance, it’s possible to address that balance in creative and respectful ways. An increase in the sea otter population in Southeast Alaska has resulted in diminishing crab numbers, affecting commercial fisheries that are losing out to the voracious otters.

Expanding the number of Alaska Natives who are skilled in the use of otter furs is a practical way to encourage hunting, while promoting the beauty of the fur. That’s the underlying mission for the Sealaska Heritage Institute’s skin sewing workshop in Wrangell on March 12-15.

Jeremiah James, from Yakutat, who will teach the class, said harvesting sea otters is an opportunity to use the traditional methods of the past to affect the future.

He became involved with skin sewing by taking a similar class in 2011. “I had no idea about working with marine animal fur — before that, it was just supper,” he said.

He soon developed the skills to work with a variety of materials and now produces a variety of wearable products, including headbands, vests, hats, even bow ties.

The class will introduce participants to introductory steps in working with skins, including preparing and stretching the hides, and choosing appropriate patterns for hats, scarves or pillows.

There will also be an overview of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service laws regarding hunting otters and using the fur. Only Alaska Natives are allowed to hunt the marine mammals.

In a practical application of the law, while the class is open to Native and non-Native participants, coastal tribal members will work with sea otter skins, while others will work with beaver pelts.

Participants will have the opportunity to use a variety of cutting tools, including ulus and X-Acto knives. However, James said he discovered a knife designed specifically for fur, produced in Germany. “It is super fine, and now that I have this, there’s no going back.”

There will also be a range of sewing needles and threads, including black nylon and artificial sinew. “Those are really choices of individual preference,” James noted.

When participants are ready to sew, they will learn a range of stitches, as each type has a different application. Some are specifically used for strength, while others might be adapted to the way the hide lays.

Learning to craft furs offers any number of possible applications. “It can be a marketable skill, or something to do with the family, like a hobby,” he said.

However, there can still be challenges.

“It’s a frustration,” said James. “There is a push to open up more sea otter harvests, but there are only seven people in Alaska to produce usable skins. There is a minimum two to three months wait time to get tanned skins back.”

In spite of those challenges, the Sealaska Heritage Institute is committed to supporting those traditional skills and has annually sponsored workshops in Southeast communities for more than 10 years.

The workshop is an intense, 24-hour experience spread over four days. The Thursday and Friday sessions, March 12-13, at the WCA carving shed, run from 5 to 9 p.m., followed by 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. sessions on Saturday and Sunday, March 14-15. The class is limited to 15 participants, and costs $100 for materials.

Registration is at bit.ly/WRANGSkinSew26

In addition, if anyone in Wrangell with a boat is interested in a broader experience, including skinning, James would be willing to accompany them to scout and harvest sea otters during his stay. Contact him at yakutatfurs.com.