Today I am harvesting yellow cedar bark

Every basket, hat, or piece of woven cedar begins long before the weaving ever starts. I harvested yellow cedar bark using a traditional Tlingit practice that has been passed down for thousands of years. Before the harvest, I offered a prayer and gratitude to the tree. Only a small strip of bark—never the entire circumference—is carefully removed so the tree can continue living and healing. The harvest is only the first step. Hours of hiking, peeling, stripping, cutting, and drying still lie ahead before a single strand is ready to weave. This cedar bark will one day become baskets, hats, regalia, and traditional Tlingit armor. For my people, cedar isn’t just a resource—it’s a gift, a teacher, and a connection to our ancestors. Keeping these traditions alive means honoring the forest, taking only what is needed, and giving thanks every step of the way. #cedarbark #cedarweaving #yellowcedar #tlingit #indigenous