This Cedar Tree will be carved into two House Posts and a Welcome Figure that will then live at the Abbotsford School District Board Office. The Cedar Tree comes from Powell River and has been resting at Semá:th First Nation for about 10 years. The Blackberry bushes have protected it over the years. The Cedar Tree is so resilient that it can be carved 60 years after it has been unrooted.
This page will be updated in sequential order documenting the process of carving. Come learn with us! We encourage you to share this page with your students, have them inquire about the process, and email us (Allison.Gardner@abbyschools.ca) any work that your students would like shared with the carvers.
Meet the Carvers
Raphael Silver - Xéyteléq - is from Semá:th First Nation and has been doing art with the Abbotsford School District for 29 years.
Ray Silver - Xéyteléq - is from Semá:th First Nation and Raphael's father. Ray started carving in 1983.
Mike Epp - Tsuwi'it - is from a long line of carvers from the Gitlaan Tribe. He has been a carver since 1980.
Kelsey Ned - Kwilösintun - is from Semá:th First Nation. Kelsey started carving when he was in Elementary School with Ray and Raphael.
How old is the Cedar?
You will notice that the tree rings in Old Growth Cedar are very close to one another. This is important for carving. Notice Raphael Silver's fingers, in that space there are 20 rings, 20 years of growth. How old is this Cedar Tree then? What mathematical questions do you have when exploring the age of the tree?
What history was this Cedar a witness to? This Cedar has been around since before Canada was a country.
What is a House Post?
A House Post is an upright post that supports the structure of the longhouse. Posts beside the main entrance would likely be carved in relation to the family who are connected with that longhouse. In larger longhouses with multiple families living together, family areas may be separated with more upright main support posts that would also be carved showing families (Information gathered through 9000 Years of History in the Land of the River People). House Posts may have similarities to Totem Poles (carved Cedar); however, House Posts are from Stó:lō territory and are part of the structure.
Today carved house posts may not necessarily be a part of the structure of the building, but may instead show respect to the tradition of carving and of house posts. The house posts that are being carved for this project will be of this nature. Respecting and honoring the tradition, art, and family, but will not be supporting the physical structure of the Board Office.
Cutting the Cedar into an 8-foot piece:
Here you see Mike Epp using a chainsaw to cut the Cedar into an 8-foot piece (Why do you think it might be cut to that length?). You can see at the top that there are wedges to hold some space as he cuts down through the tree.
Success! Look at how beautiful the Cedar tree is opened up. There were some Carpenter Ants that began making their home in the tree. Can you see evidence of the ant's carvings?
Creating a Uniform Ovoid
Raphael then used a Draw Knife to create a uniform ovoid to carve from. This knife here is pretty old (60-100 years old) and was actually a Farrier Knife that was used to shape Horseshoes. This knife creates beautiful curled pieces of Cedar. Check out the image below. What does it remind you of?
A little video of the mini-chainsaw in action:
Carving Tools: Check out the tools below. Look at their shape and size. Can you determine what part of carving each tool would be helpful for?
Carving continues - take notice of working together. Think about a time when you were working on a project with your hands with someone else. What kinds of conversations did you have? How did supporting one another create a positive working space and memory? How do those positive thoughts and experiences materialize in the piece that you created together?
Recognizing how you feel when carving: When you are doing work, it's important to check in with how you're feeling in your mind, body, heart, and spirit. Check out how Brady and Ashley are feeling during their first time carving a House Post.
As Brady is learning to carve, he gets to ask Ray Silver about his own carving experience.
Honouring Raphael's mom, Janice Silver: Here you will hear Raphael explain the significance of the House Post representing his mom. Raphael will share about the flower pattern his mom would use on blankets, check out the image below the video to see the pattern. Do you see the carved blanket around his mom? If you were to honour a female who has positively impacted and influenced your life, what might you include?
Indigenous Education Post: 2 of the House Posts are in a more traditional form (representing Raphael's mom and dad). This one here is more contemporary. Watch the video below to hear Raphael explain it. After, check the photos below and connect with the story: In what ways can education be a doorway into the future? Remember to look for teardrops, hearts, and flowers (it may not be as obvious as the above example).
Raphael Silver and Kelsey Ned engaged the public and the schools with the Education Welcome Figure: Semá:th First Nation Longhouse, Havard Deeper Learning Dozen, Wa;cipi C'ante Was'te Yuhapi Powwow, Bakerview Centre for Learning, Yale Secondary, Abby Senior Secondary, and Mouat Secondary. In doing so, they engaged with, inspired, connected to, and shared knowledge and carving experiences with many youths and adults.
On National Indigenous Peoples Day, June 21, 2022, the School Trustees held a ceremony to honour the carvers and to brush off the posts- filling our hearts and minds. Chris Silver opened for us, Perry Smith was the Speaker, Raphael Silver and Ray Silver were the honourees. Witnesses spoke to the work and then we filled our bodies up with wonderfully cooked salmon, rice, salad, and bannock.
House Post Representing Ray Silver: Ray Silver is Raphael Silver's dad. Raphael is carving a piece to honour his dad, and on that piece will be a shield. Listen to Raphael explaining the design that will be carved into the shield.
Completed House Posts at the School Board Office
The story of a single tree. Connect with more of Raphael's carvings. The 3 pieces above were carved from the same Cedar Tree as the following 5 pieces. Imagine the scope of that Cedar Tree. Imagine the stories it saw. Check out the stories it continues to share.
The Story of a Single Tree - This tree has gifted so many pieces. Part of using the whole tree is about showing respectful responsibility to the Cedar. There are other reasons as well. For example, there are only a few Old Growth Cedars left in the area (remember you need old-growth for carving because the rings are so close to one another). This is a direct impact of Colonization and Urbanization and significantly impacts the availability of resources for the artists. What are other changes that impact resources? How can we help to protect the land and the trees?
The sister tree to this tree carries many stories as well. You can see it at the Fraser River Heritage Park. Raphael carved these pieces as well "to create a positive, commemorative monument as a celebration of reconciliation between residential school survivors and the Catholic Church" (The Abbotsford News - https://www.abbynews.com/community/sumas-monument-to-be-erected-at-fraser-river-heritage-park/)
