The western red cedar is considered the cornerstone of northwest coast aboriginal culture because of its great spiritual significance and its many uses. The wood was used to make dugout canoes, house planks, bentwood boxes, arrow-shafts, masks, and paddles. The inner bark and the long arching branches, which are remarkably strong given their flexibility, would be soaked in water and twisted into ropes, mats, nets, clothing, baskets, and fishing line. The heavier grades of rope have traditionally been used by whale-hunting tribes to tow home dead whales. Listen to the podcast for a personal essay on red cedars…

This Field Note was written by Mike Roesch. Would you be interested in writing one? Contact Allison De Jong, Field Notes editor, at adejong [at] montananaturalist [dot] org or 406.327.0405. Please visit the Field Notes website at the Montana Natural History Center for more information.