Culturally Modified Trees

February-March 2003

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.
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by Chris Hudson

Rectangular bark peel.

A culturally modified tree (CMT), as the term relates to the aboriginal peoples of BC's coast, is any tree that bears the scars or markings of ancient, traditional logging practices.

CMTs on the BC coast have been dated back to the year 1137 AD. CMTs are important archaeological treasures and provide us with clues to the distribution of native people and a window into how they lived with, and utilized, the rain forest. To many aboriginal people, culturally modified trees hold a spiritual value, serving as a connection to the earth and to their ancestry. In addition, in recent years, CMTs have been taking on another important role - a legal one.

CMTs are being used as legal evidence and proof of native occupation, helping to substantiate native land claims and title. The significance of a stand of trees containing CMTs is assessed by the BC government and First Nations on a number of criteria: cultural, ethical, scientific, historic, public, educational and economic significance. Many of BC's archaeological sites, including certain CMTs, are protected by The Heritage Conservation Act against damage, alteration or development if they were, or were assumed to have been, modified prior to the year 1846 (the date defined as that of 'first contact').

The coastal native peoples used the straight grained wood and versatile bark of the western red cedar tree almost to the exclusion of all other types of trees, although yellow cedar, hemlock, spruce, fir,alder and pine did have their purposes.

Healing flange around peel.

The wood of the red cedar is light, strong, rot resistant and easily worked - ideal for use as shelter, dugout canoes, masks, bent boxes, arrow and harpoon shafts, dishes, as well as mortuary and totem poles.

The most common type of CMT encountered on the coast is the bark peel (taper or rectangular). This is where a section of the bark has been removed from the tree, leaving an area of the core exposed. A healing flange (a ridge of bark) forms slowly, as the tree tries to heal itself by wrapping new bark around the scar. This healing flange is an important component in accurately dating when a CMT was utilized or modified.

Trees with taper peels are prevalent in all areas of the coast. With only slight regional differences, the basic methods employed in the harvesting and preparing of cedar bark were very similar. The chosen trees were normally about a foot across and had few low branches or imperfections. An initial cut was made through the bark, near the base of the tree, about one quarter to one third of the way around the tree. By not removing bark from the whole circumference, the harvester avoided killing it. In fact, some trees show scars from multiple bark peels that were removed many years apart.

Once the initial cut was made, the bark was pried up and carefully pulled outward and upward. If the tree was growing on a hill, the peel was usually done on the uphill face of the tree to facilitate this outward and upward pulling. As the peel went higher it became narrower until it finally broke off at the top. The outer bark was then pulled off, leaving the leather-like inner bark, which was either dried for future use or split into strands and used while it was still fresh.

Taper peel.

Rectangular bark peels were accomplished with methods similar to a taper peel. They are more common on the central and northern coasts. If a slab of bark was required of a specific length, two cuts would be made in the tree. One cut would be close to the base, as in a taper peel, and one higher up on the tree, at the desired height to end the peel. Then the bark slab would be carefully pried and pulled off the trunk.

The bark of the red cedar had many uses in traditional culture. Once peeled from the tree it was used in large sheets as a roofing material or siding on temporary shelters or even as cooking vessels. The most prized part of the bark was the pliable inner bark. It could be split into strips, prepared, and woven into ceremonial dress, hats, clothing, mats, rope and blankets. Shredded very finely,it saw use in paint brushes and brooms, was twisted into string for use as fishing line, or braided and woven into skirts, capes and dance costumes.

Planks were removed from both fallen and standing trees using a number of techniques. One common method was to cut a notch into the tree across the face where the end of the plank would be removed. Then a series of yew, antler or bone wedges would be driven into the wood, causing a split in the grain that was worked along the length of the plank to free it from the rest of the tree. The nature of the cedar tree helped, as it is quite easily split and the grain runs so straight that the removed planks generally required no other working to be ready for whatever project they were destined for.

© Text and photos by Chris Hudson, a freelance writer/photographer who lives on Vancouver Island, BC. chris_hudson@canada.com