At only 18 years old, Mahatta Price has already worked with cedar bark for more than half her life. Her interest started when she was young, and her mom took her and her twin sister to a workshop on making cedar bracelets and headbands.
Since then, weaving has become a part of Price’s life. “I’ve always been artsy,” she says. From a young age, she loved to draw and paint; weaving became another way to express herself artistically. Now, she studies Metal Jewellery Design at North Island College on weekdays, and spends time most weekends weaving hats, headbands, baskets, mats, earrings, hearts, and roses from cedar.
Mentorship and learning from experts
Price grew up in the Comox Valley and is a member of K’ómoks First Nation. She first had the opportunity to weave a basket and cedar hat under the mentorship of Toni Frank. After a few years of weaving, Price began apprenticing under Pamela Mitchell. With Mitchell’s guidance, she learned to weave a wool and cedar cape, which took her months to complete.
Perhaps more than most artistic pursuits, weaving cedar bark requires patience and time. It’s not like the weaver can just go to the art supply store and purchase materials. The process starts with going into the forest in the spring, when the sap is running, to harvest the bark. Price harvests both red and yellow cedar bark with her family and relatives.
The cedar harvesting process
In the forest, Price looks for a healthy cedar tree with straight bark and minimal branches.“The tree must be big enough for me to hug with fingertips touching,” she explains. “Then I know it is mature enough.” She asks the tree for permission before harvesting the bark and makes sure to harvest only what she needs to ensure the tree will continue to thrive.
“I always say a prayer or leave a medicine offering to thank the tree for sharing its bark with me,” she says. Then she splits the outer bark off, leaving it at the base of the tree so the outer bark and its nutrients can go back into the forest. The inner bark is what she will work with.
Preparing cedar bark for weaving
But first, she lets it dry until the sap is no longer sticky—a couple of years. Before working with the bark, she soaks it in warm water until it’s flexible, then splits it into uniform strips. Longer ones are used for mats, hats, or clothing while smaller ones can become roses, earrings, and other small items. The smallest pieces go back into the forest.
Most often, Price uses red cedar, which is strong and holds its shape well. She explains, “You can soak it multiple times while you’re working with it,” so she can sometimes create a design as she goes along, continuously learning from her projects and mistakes. But for her more intricate works, she plans and calculates the design in advance.
Incorporating additional materials into weavings
She often incorporates other materials like yellow cedar, copper strips and cherry bark into her work. When she’s making cedar bark capes, she will often weave wool into her designs. The designs tell stories and are woven with positive intention and a good mind.
For her cedar capes and headbands, she uses traditional designs and techniques she’s learned from other weavers. She also makes button blankets and aprons adorned with buttons made from various shells including abalone and mother of pearl, and buttons she’s made from elk and deer antlers.
The spiritual and cultural connection to weaving
Mahatta loves cedar weaving and sewing regalia because it calms and relaxes her, helping her feel centred. “Weaving is something you cannot do when you are not well, as the negative energy can be transferred into the weaving. You only ever want good thoughts to be a part of the weavings,” she says.
It also helps her feel connected to her ancestors and her culture. She grew up listening to songs in Kwak’wala, and now she’s learning ʔayʔaǰuθəm.
She plans on continuing to work with cedar and wool, and hopes to learn to weave with cedar roots as well. And, as her weaving journey continues, she looks forward to sharing her knowledge and skills with other youth.
