Michigan Atlatl Journal

Turkey Toss Time!

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 02:13:00 GMT

Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow at Phil and Diane's.

Here are some random images from previous Turkey Tosses:

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 10:40:00 GMT

Saturday Morning Museum Trip

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 14:09:00 GMT

Tannu Tuva Memorial Fall Fling Wrap Up

Sat, 01 Nov 2008 22:39:00 GMT

What a wonderful afternoon. Lori, Kylie and I really enjoyed having everyone over. We've already got it on the schedule for next year! I saw lots of cameras out. Please post your photos to the new Tannu Tuva Memorial Fall Fling photo gallery to the right of this post.

Thanks to Bryant Hiiter and Phil Klimowicz, everyone went home with a prize! I did not know Bryant was a fan of Tannu Tuva. He provided us with quite a few official Tannu Tuva postage stamps for prizes. Phil created a Tannu Tuva panther out of silver! I know Abe won that. What did everyone else win? Let us know in the comments section of this post. I provided some classic atlatl t-shirts and some anthropology books to round out the prizes so everyone went home a winner. Eysters - we were sorry you had to leave early. I've got prizes for you!

We'll see everyone at the Turkey Toss on November 28.

Added Nov. 3, 2008:

Thanks to MichBowGuy, Jamie for putting this slide show and movie of the event together:

My Private Shoebox

fallfling 043.mov

Sharing Knowledge

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 02:13:00 GMT

The Fall Event aka Tannu Tuva Memorial Fall Fling

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 19:40:00 GMT

Well, the Tour de Livingston was a smash success. I spent lots of time over the past few months helping to organize the event and was rewarded with a 100 mile bike ride on the prettiest day this fall!

On to the Fall Event, aka Tannu Tuva Memorial Fall Fling. What ever happened to Tannu Tuva?

The event will be held at my house located at 7273 Hamburg Rd., Brighton on Saturday, November 1 from noon until 5 p.m.

Bring a dish to pass. Kylie has a severe nut allergy. Please make sure your dish does not contain nuts or nut byproducts. TwinFawns has set up a forum topic here to coordinate who's bringing what. Thanks, TwinFawns! Please RSVP via the poll to the right of this post so we know how many to expect.

We will have an official ISAC at 2 plus a few other targets will be set up. Bring your atlatls and your bows.

There will be a campfire and a knapping pit. The knapping pit will be under cover if the weather is inclement. The Brighton State Recreation Area is across the street with 5000 acres of fields, forests, streams and lakes for those who want to do some exploring by foot, bike, or boat.

While we are all gathered I want to take care of some club business: I want to have a discussion about the future of the MAA. And I want to see how much interest there is in the idea of hosting the World Atlatl Association Annual Meeting at the Chelsea Rod & Gun Club next July.

I had also hoped to set up a dart making workshop so we could build more darts for the club, but I don't think I'll be able to get that together. The club darts are in pitiful condition.

If we run out of things to do, we can practice our throat singing:

We look forward to seeing you on the 1st! Jim, Lori, and Kylie

Wisconsin Atlatl Upate

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 15:14:00 GMT

Hi Michigan Friends,

As you know, Mary and I were not able to make Boblo because of the meeting with the Upland Game Committee on that Saturday about the use of an Atlatl for hunting. To give you a shortened version they voted 19-2 to PASS my advisory question, to allow the use of an Atlatl for small game in Wisconsin :)

Now it will go to the Executive committee of the DNR in January. If they pass the advisory question, then it will come to vote in April at the Conservation Spring Hearings, which are state wide. If my Advisory question passes in April, then the following year it will come to vote as a law change. This is really a long process, but I truly believe that the Atlatl should be able to be used for hunting purposes. Thanks for caring and asking, if you know any people in Wisconsin ask them to attend the spring hearing in April in their local county and vote yes on the Atlatl advisory question.

So how was Boblo this year? I really missed seeing everyone. Already anticipating the next gathering in 2009 at Bois Blanc island.

Regards,

Lenny Riemersma

Primitive Steel Making

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 21:40:00 GMT

Primitive Steel Making

I am interested in organizing a weekend steel making event. I have been studying the process and would like to construct a roman oven and make a bloom of steel. To do this I would need some help because it is too physically demanding for one person to do, by themselves. The end result will be steel that I will make a blade(s) from. The event would start on a Friday night with the construction of the oven. As a group we will build the furnace and I will explain what I have learned about the function of each part of the furnace as we go along. At the same time we will have to prepare the fuel and raw materials.

Saturday we will fire up the furnace and begin the smelting process, ending with the plume being extracted Saturday night.

Here is a list of things needed and I would appreciate any help sourcing some of these things.

As well if anyone would like to chip into the event by donating anything in part or something to help out that would be appreciated as well.

A place to hold it state side (it is easier for me to go there rather then bring everyone here.)

Clay about 150lbs

Iron ore 80lbs

Charcoal 160lbs or 12 13lb bags as can be bought in the hardware store.

I think this would be a neat experiment and learning experience as well as a great social gathering for everyone. We would make a day of it and because the furnace has to be tended we would be eating lunch and dinner together. So it would be possible to have other things going one while we all took turns tending the furnace.

Anyone Have Anything To Crow About?

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 23:36:00 GMT

Woods and Water - Imlay City, MI - Sept 5-7

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:11:00 GMT

Here is a mapquest link to Eastern Michigan Fairgrounds:

http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory=&searchtab=home&address=195+Midway+St+&city=Imlay+City&state=Mi&zipcode=

Fall Event - New Date

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 04:56:00 GMT

Greetings Michigan Atlatlists!

The Fall Event that was scheduled for October 11 at the Gilligan residence has been moved to Saturday, November 1. I had a conflict on the October date with the Howell Rotary Club's Tour de Livingston. I hope you can make it on the new date. I'll put up an RSVP poll after the State Championship. Please respond to the State Championship poll if you haven't already.

Cheers, Jim

Go Erik!

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 06:45:00 GMT

Our friend and GLP instructor, Erik Vosteen is in the news down Fort Wayne way:

Celebrate the history and traditions of the earliest inhabitants of the Three Rivers area at “Miami Indian Heritage Day” on Saturday, Sept. 6, from 1-4 p.m., at Chief Richardville House, 5705 Bluffton Road, Fort Wayne.

Naturalist Erik Vosteen will demonstrate traditional Great Lakes weaponry (hand and throwing weapons, and atlatl). Visitors will learn about the equipment and techniques, history, and other interesting facts about the tools.

Guests may tour the historic 1827-built home of Miami Chief Jean Baptiste de Richardville. This restored site affords visitors the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of our area’s history. The first floor of the Chief Richardville House is handicap accessible.

Admission is $7 adults; $5 seniors and students; History Center members and children under 5 are admitted free. Parking is free. For more information, call the History Center at (260) 426-2882, or visit fwhistorycenter.com.

Check Erik out at Burnt Mud.

Call For GLP Photos and Videos

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 01:43:00 GMT

I know there were lots of cameras at the event. Thanks to Jeff from Out Your Backdoor Magazine for posting his photos and videos. Where are yours? Let me know if you need help posting them. It's nice to share!

Here's one I took of a very lonely atlatl ISAC target.

On another note, I have lots of video of old events on VHS. Do any of you have the capability to convert VHS to a digital format?

Greetings From Belgium!

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 23:17:00 GMT

Our old friend Pascal Chavaux makes a great shot. It must be the hat!

When Pascal first visited us at the Chelsea Rod & Gun club, Dan Hovater asked him what language they speak in Belgium. Pascal responded, "Belch!"

Indian Orchards Event This Weekend

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 18:39:00 GMT

Ricci had this posted on her webjam - wanted to make sure the word got out....

Aug 15,16, and 17. 14337 Fowlerville Rd. Byron, MI. 48418 Follow two track beyond driveway approx. 1/2 mile to campground. campers may set up thurs aug 14 after 5pm. skills include: cooking w/ cast iron, making and using fire strikers and awls, spoon carving, canvas shelters, tool use, woodsman crafts, plant skills, hide tanning, dug out canoe building. cost is $35 per person per day or $125 for family for weekend (includes camping and one traditional meal) children 10 and under are free. outhouse on site. drinking water provided. if camping please bring clothing appropriate for all weather, food and drinks for fri and sat. sun meal will be provided. bring tent or shelter, bug repellent, sun screen, etc. not camping? bring food and drinks for day, sunscreen, bug repellent, etc. for more info contact Ricci 810-449-7656 or George 989-288-0168

Another Cool Video from Ben and Will

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 21:56:00 GMT

Check out the reverse action footage.

Lapeer Bowman

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 21:26:00 GMT

The MAA used to attend this event, but it was too close to the GLP to keep doing so. Do you have plans to attend this year? If so, give us a report. Gotta love the retro photocopied flyer! I wonder if I have any photos from past events there......

What Is Art?

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 02:18:00 GMT

I love this image by Banksy, guerrilla graffiti artist.

Here's another cool one.

we need some flint........

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 21:22:00 GMT

has anyone got any flint available for knapping we are in dire need for the summer gathering!!

some of our regulars will not be in attendance this year so we are in short supply of knappable stone.

please send responses to glen krueger 586 774 9697 or this site thanks krug

Lenny and Mary

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 20:00:00 GMT

I just got a call from Len Riemersma. He and Mary will not be in attendance for the GLP Summer Gathering this year. Len is one of the only people I know who had perfect attendance since the very first year. They had planned to come, but he just got a letter from the Wisconsin State Game Commission informing him that there will be a meeting on August 9th to discuss his state resolution to legalize hunting with the altatl. Good luck, Len!