“Tree of life”

FROM THE DUGOUT CANOES of the Nuu-chah-nulth to the totem poles of the Haida to the longhouses of the Tlingit, the western redcedar (known as “the tree of life” by various northwest coast peoples) is more than just a tree to the Indigenous people of the Northwest Coast. However, the western redcedar growths suitable for traditional carving are as rare as they are iconic, largely as a result of logging. Now, the five First Nations of the Nanwakolas Council and Simon Fraser University are undertaking a collaborative research project, combining traditional ecological knowledge with scientific research. The project is contributing to new forest stewardship policies focused on cedar conservation — and is now being implemented through First Nation laws and subsequent agreements with forestry companies.

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