The Ozette Prairies of Olympic National Park - Natural Resources ...

Ha’hiba, Trees common around the prairies
Hemlock (tila’)- various sources have mentioned that the prairies were surrounded by stands of large
hemlocks. This shows both that the prairie fires did not burn the surrounding trees and that both the
prairies and those surrounding trees had been there for a long time. For the Quileute, the most important
use of large girth hemlocks was to be a source long, wide strips of hemlock bark that were used in the
walls and roof of the prairie camp-house, the loq’wati, prairie bark house
.
Red Cedar (t’sapis)- The red cedar grew on the edge of some of the prairies. The traditional Quileute uses
of this important tree, called “the tree that made Northwest Coast Indian culture possible” are myriad
(see Powell and Morganroth, p.6-10). Of special interest with regard to the Quileute use of prairies was
the use of cedarbark for berry drying pans and other camp uses, including twined rope. But, even casual
acquaintance with the practical details of traditional Quileute lifeways makes it apparent that cedar was a
daily necessity of life.
Yellow cedar (q’alba)- Yellow cedar was used for carving (esp. bows) and the bark was collected for
finer shredded bark manufacturing, in skirts and for use around the collars of vests and cloaks. Medicinally,
yellow cedar boughs would be burned to cleanse a home or campsite after someone had been ill or
ghosted in a dream or some surprising spiritual manifestation had occurred.
Douglas fir (t’lixits)- Especially preferred for poles in camp-houses such as the loq’wati, hemlock bark
houses in the prairies. Also used for spear handles and canoe poles. Fir gum was used to treat abrasions
and chewed for pleasure.
Silver Fir (t’lixitschaqli, “similar to a fir”)- The silver fir was known as the “helping tree.” Quileute myth
told how in the Time of Beginnings Silver Fir was the brother of Fir and would always help him out when
he needed something. Fir boughs were used in the kit’lakwal “elk dance ritual,” and when a hunter had
not had luck the last time out, he would sleep on silver fir boughs on the nights before going out hunting
again.
Grand Fir (t’lokwaliyat, “Wolf Dance ritual wood” or sibi’yat, “stinkwood”), preferred for making the
masks of the t’lokwali Wolf Dance Society ritual. Since the prairies were common places for members
of the secret societies to get together, the materials for ritual gear and regalia were regularly collected in
prairie areas.
Sitka spruce (yaksa)- Important to basketry were spruce roots that were dug and pulled up, split and
then used in burden baskets, especially the large openwork baskets carried by women to the prairies
94