Cupressaceae Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don

Western Redcedar

Hesquiat - Fiber, Basketry

Use documented by:
Turner, Nancy J. and Barbara S. Efrat, 1982, Ethnobotany of the Hesquiat Indians of Vancouver Island, Victoria. British Columbia Provincial Museum, page 35

View all documented uses for Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don

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Scientific name: Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don
USDA symbol: THPL (View details at USDA PLANTS site)
Common names: Western Redcedar
Family: Cupressaceae
Family (APG): Cupressaceae
Native American Tribe: Hesquiat
Use category: Fiber
Use sub-category: Basketry
Notes: Very long, straight branches or withes used to make baskets. Cedar withes were also split and used to make a wide variety of strong open-work baskets for berry-picking and other purposes. These were strengthened at the corners with twisted cedar ropes. The withes were divided with two vertical cuts. The two outer rounds were often used for finer construction and possibly the active weft; the inner piece, flattened on two sides, was usually used for the 'framework' (warp and passive weft) of the baskets.

RECRD: 522 id: 40009

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