In a special inaugural bilingual ceremony, Maverick Tannery & Leather is now recognized as The Tanner Économusée, or a working museum.
UNITY — What was once a quiet prairie tannery is now part of an international network celebrating traditional craftsmanship, tourism and living history.
Owner-operator of Maverick Leather Tannery, Mark Mauthe, has been creating rawhide and leather for the past 14 years after taking over the well-established business from previous owner Hal Hepting. This past week, Maverick Leather Tannery reached new heights as it joined an elite network of international artisans as a Tanner Économusée, or a working museum.
In partnership with Conseil économique et coopératif de la Saskatchewan (Saskatchewan Economic and Co-operative Council) (CÉCS), Société du réseau Économusée (Economuseum Network Society) (SRÉ), Tourism Saskatchewan and Prairies Economic Development Canada, Maverick Leather Tannery joined the elite network Artisans à l’œuvre, or Artisans at Work, which features other artisan businesses from throughout the world.
This opportunity came to Mauthe when CÉCS reached out in February 2025. After months of discussions, online meetings and on-site visits, the business opened its doors as the Tanner Économusée on June 17, with special guests from PrairiesCan, Tourism Saskatchewan, CÉCS, SRÉ and an Indigenous artist.
“Joining this network is a tremendous honour. It connects me with an international community of artisans and entrepreneurs who share knowledge, experiences, and best practices. Being part of this network not only brings visibility to my business but also helps showcase the town of Unity, the province of Saskatchewan, and Canada on an international stage,” said Mauthe.
Tourism Saskatchewan said tourism is an important economic driver for the province, with visitor spending reaching $3 billion in 2024. Each year, approximately 12 million visits are made to and within the province.
“Businesses like Maverick Tannery play an important role in supporting Saskatchewan’s tourism industry,” said Tourism Saskatchewan.
The tannery processes up to 50 hides a week, using traditional methods for creating rawhide, leather or full robes, many of which have been purchased and sent abroad. At the bilingual inauguration, Darwin Atcheynum, an Indigenous artist, storyteller and knowledge keeper from Sweetgrass First Nation, said he has gifted many of Mauthe’s products to various world dignitaries over the years.
“We supply businesses throughout Canada with inventory, and our product is shipped across Europe, but that doesn’t mean we can forget about our local clients. Some of our most regular customers are from surrounding First Nation reserves, as well as schools and other cultural programs in the area,” added Mauthe.
As the number of Canadian tanneries has declined over the years, Mauthe’s goal is to demonstrate that the practice can be done in a more environmentally responsible way by exploring and implementing eco-friendly practices.
“Preserving this craft is about more than producing leather – it’s about sharing history, educating people about where materials come from, and ensuring traditional knowledge is passed on to future generations. Through the new partnership, I hope visitors will gain a better understanding of the history, the process, and the cultural significance of tanning, and in turn, share that knowledge with others,” said Mauthe.
Maverick Tannery and Leather is the sixth Saskatchewan business to join forces with CÉCS, with two more businesses, SS River Designs and Crossmount Cider Company, soon to be joining the network. Other économusées include Over the Hill Orchard & Winery in Lumsden, Susan Robertson pottery in Broderick, Prairie Bee Meadery in Caron, Black Fox Farm & Distillery in Saskatoon and Freba Pottery in Dafoe.
The tannery is now open for self-guided tours through the store and guided tours throughout the tannery.
An artisan is a skilled worker or craftsperson who makes or creates material objects partly or entirely by hand, often focusing on traditional techniques, high quality and meticulous attention to detail.