Cedar by Hilary Stewart

West Coast Publication | Paradise Cay Publications

About this product

From the towering cedar of the rainforest came a rich array of raw materials essential to the life, art, and culture of the early First Nations people of the Northwest Coast.

Every part of the cedar tree had multiple uses. Skilled craftsmen fashioned ocean-going canoes, imposing post-and-beam houses, monumental carved poles that conveyed history, rights, and lineage, as well as powerful dance masks from the wood. Women skillfully wove the inner bark into mats and baskets, created cordage and netting, and crafted soft, warm, water-repellent clothing. They also made sturdy ropes from the strong withes and wove the roots into watertight baskets.

In this comprehensive guide, Hilary Stewart uses vivid descriptions, 550 detailed drawings, and 50 photographs to explain the tools and techniques employed, along with the beautifully crafted objects and their various uses in daily and ceremonial life. The text is enriched with anecdotes, oral histories, and accounts from early explorers, traders, missionaries, and Native elders, providing a deep understanding of this vital cultural heritage.