First Nation, forestry firm team up to track culturally modified trees … – The Province
July 24, 2014
To the uninformed eye, they look like regular trees.
But some of the centuries-old trees in the B. C. central coast’s old-growth rain forests are living testaments to the culture and heritage of theHeiltsuk First Nation prior to European contact.
These culturally modified trees (CMTs) have been altered by First Nation activity, such as bark-peeling, logging, or carvings.
“They used to be curiosities, but now they are everywhere, particularly as logging becomes more common,” said Jennifer Carpenter, cultural and heritage manager for the Heiltsuk Nation. “If you see a CMT, you know the ancestors were there.”
