In Richard Arlin Walker's poem "The Cedar Tree," various metaphors and symbols reveal cedar trees' practical and symbolic uses. Throughout generations, Indigenous People have cherished and utilized cedar trees in their lives, recognizing their importance in both practical and spiritual ways. These trees hold a special significance in their culture and are honoured with deep reverence.
Cedar trees are a reliable resource, offering numerous benefits to humans and animals. Indigenous communities deeply understood the tree's value and made comprehensive use of its various components in their daily lives. The inner bark fibres, for instance, were skillfully fashioned into practical items, including "fishing nets,...baskets in which …show more content…
Additionally, cedar wood was utilized in the construction of canoes. The People used the canoes for all sorts of things; it was "a seagoing canoe that carried [generations of Indigenous people] on waters the Ancestors knew." (36-37) To travel to vast lands searching for food, gatherings, and sacred ceremonies. Cedar trees are also beneficial for learning about the circle of life. "A cedar tree can tell us by its rings when salmon runs [would be] big" (5-7), providing valuable information about the optimal time for hunting. The tree also signals when bears and eagles will consume the salmon, leaving behind carcasses that benefit the ecosystem by nourishing the tree's roots and promoting growth. Moving into the realm of spirituality and symbolism, the places where "an Ancestor [may have] been buried" (15-16) grew the cedar tree. The ancestors helped the trees grow and let them reach their full potential. They act as nutrients and help the trees reach their full potential. The cedar tree, in particular, is closely linked with the blood and flesh of the ancestors, which symbolizes the sacredness of the land. This connection also shows how the land has spiritual significance due to the blessings of