Artworks
Mixed media on wood panel
Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata) trees are long-lived and have been traditionally stewarded by local First Nations peoples who used every part of the tree. Science has shown that these powerful trees contain a chemical called α-thujone which is antibacterial, antiseptic, antiviral, and antifungal.
Wild salmon are integral to the health of Western Red Cedar trees and have been scientifically linked to a specific isotope. At the end of their life cycle, the salmon use their keen sense of smell to lead them back to the stream where they were born in order to continue the cycle of life. Bears bring the salmon deeper into the forest where their carcasses fertilize the soil and trees.
Industrial logging and commercial over-fishing interrupt the full functioning of coastal ecosystems in ways we are only starting to fully understand.