Cedar As The Tree of Life

There are two types of Cedar, Red and Yellow, both of which are aromatic woods. Ofthe two types, Red cedar is the more popular choice because of its warm colourand rich inviting scent. Both types of cedars are long lived with the oldestones being around a thousand years old.

Among Northwest Coast people the cedar is considered sacred because it provides allthe essentials for daily life. In the central coast area one of the most important dance ceremonies is centered on the Red Cedar.

Native Americansand early European explorers used it to treat scurvy, hence the nameArborvitae, "Tree of Life". The name arborvitae or "tree oflife" dates from the 16th century when the French explorer Jacques Cartierlearned from the Indians how to use the tree's foliage to treat scurvy.

From the this giant cedar of therainforest came a wealth of raw materials vital to the way of life, art andculture of the early First Nations people of the Northwest Coast.

Cedar hasan extensive history of use by the indigenous peoples of thePacific Northwest Coast, fromOregon to southeast Alaska. Some northwest coast tribes refer to themselves as "people of the red cedar"because of their extensive dependence on the tree for basic materials. The woodhas been used for massive construction of post-and-beam houses, monumental carved poles thatdeclared history, andcrafted into many objects, including masks, utensils, boxes, boards,instruments, canoes, vessels, and ceremonial objects. Roots and bark were usedfor baskets, ropes, water repellent clothing, blankets and rings.

Carversat that time like the Red Cedar wood because of its softness, straight grain,light weight and built in fungicide (Thujaplicin) which make it perfect forcarving.

Let us now take a look at the other interesting facts about red cedar.

Red Cedar Facts

• The western red cedar tree is also known as the giant arborvitae, western arborvitae, giant red cedar, Pacific red cedar and canoe cedar. It is also known as shingle wood.
• The official tree of the British Columbia is the western red cedar tree.
• The seed cones of western red cedar are bent backward along the branches.
• The dropping branches of red cedar turn up at the tip.
• The western red cedar tree can grow in cold, mild, moist locations and also in shaded areas that have a rich nutrient soil.
• The western red cedar can grow over 60 meters in height.
• The red cedar wood is resistant to decay and damage by insects.
• The furniture made of red cedar wood can survive for over 100 years without damage.
• Few red cedar trees found on Queen Charlotte Islands are known to be over 900 years old.
• In 1972, vandals set fire and destroyed a 74 meters tall and over 800 years old red cedar in Cathedral Groove on Vancouver Island.
• The red cedar wood is used to make interior paneling, outdoor furniture, mats, fishing lines, medicines, decking, fencing, etc.
• Widely planted as an ornamental with a large number of varieties.
• Leaf oil is distilled from boughs and used for perfume and medicines.