Essays on the historical significance of cedar, general background of cedar bark
basketry, cedar baskets, basketmakers specializing in cedar basketmaking, as well as
harvesting and preparation of red and yellow cedar. Thuja Greek "thyia" (for a
juniper or a fragrant-wooded tree) from "thyo" (perfume). Plicata plaited
(leaves, branches) - Latin "plicare" (to fold).
Cedar Bark Weaving
Feature article by Paivi Sumi, weaving expert.
Cedar - A Great Provider
Western red-cedar (Thuja plicata) and yellow-cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis), including
harvesting and preparation is described in this article by the
Royal B. C. Museum.
In .pdf format.
Cedar - Tree of Life
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development article that discusses the
harvesting and use of Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata). Red cedar has a long
history of use by Plateau peoples and the Northwest Coastal Native American
people, from Oregon to southeast Alaska for basketry and other functional arts.
Learn about the spiritual and ceremonial aspects involved in this harvest. A
separate slide show is included.
Cedar Bark Basket Kit Little Brown Jug Kit by Judy Zugish
Little Brown Jug Kit (approx. 6" diameter). Strips of Western Red Cedar,
strands of Alaskan Yellow Cedar, color elements of dyed bark - all these
combine to create a charming basket.
Cedar Bark Clothing
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development article that talks about the
use of Western Red Cedar and Alaska yellow cedar in woven garments such as
capes, skirts, hats, cloaks, aprons, woven cedar shirts, leggings and diapers.
Discusses the harvest and preparation involved in both Western Red Cedar and
Alaska yellow cedar. A separate slide show is included.
Curtis Photo Collection
Portfolio of photographic images of prints contained in "The North American
Indian" by Edward S. Curtis. Northwest cedar basketry featured in numerous
images.
Haida Cedar Basketry
Haida cedar basketmaker Lisa Telford from Alaska. A multi-slide presentation explains
Lisa's work and offers much on cedar basketry.
Native Materials In
Northwest Basketry
Sharle Osborne and Kathey Ervin have put together a list of common and
scientific names for the material types used in Northwest basketry and the parts
of the plants used.
Old
Growth Cedar
Old growth Western red cedar (Thuja plicatais) the magic tree of the Pacific
Northwest.
Olympic Peninsula
Cedar
Basketry
Sharle Osborne and Kathey Ervin focus on cedar basketry from the Olympic Peninsula in
Washington State.
Royal
British Columbia Museum
This museum's collections include Northwestern cedar and spruce root First
Nations basketry. Their entire ethnology collection is accessible in a
searchable
database.
Northwest Basket
Weavers - Vi Phillips Guild
Membership organization based in Seattle, Washington. Home to many basketmakers
using cedar and other Pacific Northwest basketmaking materials.
Weavings
of Cedar Bark
An article from 'Ksan Historical Village and Museum Pacific Northwest Coast Native Indian
Art and Culture in Hazelton, British Columbia, Canada describes the historic nature
of cedar bark weavings.
Western Red Cedar (Cupressaceae Thuja plicata) Factsheet
The Dendrology program at Virginia Tech has put together this fact sheet on
Western Red Cedar that includes images of the bark, leaf and cone along with
other information on range, economic value and uses.
Western Red Cedar Used As Dye Plant
Feature article by Paivi Sumi, weaving expert describing her use of cedar bark
to dye fleece with the bark of the cedar tree. These same procedures will work
for basketry materials such as black ash or oak woodsplint.
