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"Cedar is a significant book that inspires awe not only for the
versatility of the tree but also for the resourcefulness of the people." -Rotunda
magazine, Royal Ontario Museum
From the giant cedar of the rainforest came a wealth of raw materials vital to the way
of life, art, and culture of the early First Nations people of the Northwest Coast. All
parts of the cedar tree had many uses. From the wood, skilled men made ocean-going canoes,
massive post-and-beam houses, monumental carved poles that declared history, rights and
lineage, and powerful dance masks. Women dexterously wove the inner bark into mats and
baskets, plied it into cordage and netting or processed it into soft, warm,
water-repellent clothing. They also made the strong withes into heavy duty rope and wove
the roots into watertight baskets.
Hillary explains, through her vivid descriptions, 550 detailed drawings and 50
photographs, the tools and techniques used, as well as the superbly crafted objects and
their uses--all in the context of daily and ceremonial life. Anecdotes, oral history and
the accounts of early explorers, traders, missionaries and native elders highlight the
text.
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