RED CEDAR  | Medicine:
Twigs boiled together and sprinkled on hot stones (or brewed into tea) for Rheumatism. In ceremony a sacred wood, known as a medicine tree. Native Americans say the tree was blood-stained by an wicked magician. The wood is burned only for ceremony, and the smoke is believed to drive away negative influence. Technology: Inner bark strips are pealed from the tree. Strips may be split into fine lacings and ties. Cedar strips were also used to weave storage bags and finely twined mats. Cedar strips also make a red dye. Cedar wood was splint into planks for use in lining birch bark canoes. Chippewa used cedar bows for bedding material.
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© 1994 - Tara Prindle unless otherwise cited. |