Wood Indigenous uses of yellow cedar

1 wood

1.1 harvesting

1.1.1 felling tree burning , adzing
1.1.2 felling tree burning
1.1.3 felling tree hammer, wedge, , maul

wood

yellow cedar s common name comes color of wood, pale yellow. wood durable, fine grained, contains natural preservative, , not split red cedar, making suitable carving. lightweight, pliable, yet strong, , used make paddles, fishing floats, rattles, ceremonial masks, speaker s staffs used badge of office announcer @ events, bentwood bowls, totem poles, , longhouses. bentwood boxes made using steam bend single plank of red cedar 4 sides of box, , using yellow cedar pegs join corner. these boxes highly prized , valuable trade item. used hold , store goods, or coffins deceased. salish hunters used yellow cedar saplings make bows used in trade.

bill reid raven (ubc-2010a)



richard carpenter bent-wood chest detail 01


harvesting

harvesting of trees typically done late summer spring. avoid time when sap sped rotting of tree.

felling tree burning , adzing

a cavity chiseled tree adze, , red hot rocks applied controlled burning, wet hemlock branches placed around cavity control spread of burn. tree feller chop away charcoal, renewing treatment of hot rocks needed.

felling tree burning

fire applied base of tree. ring of wet clay circled tree above fire control burning.

felling tree hammer, wedge, , maul

a scaffold , platform built around tree above flaring roots. 2 chiseled grooves 1 foot apart made around tree , wood between cut away hammer , maul. process repeated until tree fell.