Faces in the Forest: First Nations Art Created on Living TreesIn Faces in the Forest Michael Blackstock, a forester and an artist, takes us into the sacred forest, revealing the mysteries of carvings, paintings, and writings done on living trees by First Nations people. Blackstock details this rare art form through oral histories related by the Elders, blending spiritual and academic perspectives on Native art, cultural geography, and traditional ecological knowledge. Faces in the Forest begins with a review of First Nations cosmology and the historical references to tree art. Blackstock then takes us on a metaphorical journey along the remnants of trading and trapping trails to tree art sites in the Gitxsan, Nisga'a, Tlingit, Carrier, and Dene traditional territories, before concluding with reflections on the function and meaning of tree art, its role within First Nations cosmology, and the need for greater respect for all of our natural resources. This fascinating study of a haunting and little-known cultural phenomenon helps us to see our forests with new eyes. |
Contents
TWO Preparing for the Journey II | 11 |
THREE The Journey | 71 |
FOUR Campfire Reflections on the Journey | 143 |
Notes | 195 |
205 | |
219 | |
Other editions - View all
Faces in the Forest: First Nations Art Created on Living Trees Michael D. Blackstock Limited preview - 2001 |
Faces in the Forest: First Nations Art Created on Living Trees Michael D. Blackstock No preview available - 2001 |
Common terms and phrases
Aboriginal adaawk animals arborograph art form Art Wilson artist axis mundi bark birch Blackwater boundary British Columbia called camp Carrier carver cedar chief communication copper Coyote created Creek crest pole culture describes devil's club Dunne-Za earth ecological ecosystem Elders example face figure forest forestry Fraser Lake Gitxsan territory Gyetim Gan harvesting Hazelton human important Indian intended viewing context journey of meaning Kispiox Klez Kohklux Kuldo Kuutkunuxws Lake land Lillooet living tree look lynx mark marker mask medicine meeting place MICHAEL Nations art Nations landscape Neil NICK Nisga'a oral history painting perspective Phillips River photograph pictographs pine prince respect rock Secwepemc spirit world squirrels St'at'imc Stó:lö story Suuwiigos symbols Tahltan tells Tlingit told totem pole traditional trail trap trapline tree art tree carving Tsauda Tsimshian Tumbler Ridge Vastokas village visual wood Yeah Yukon