This is the second in a four part blog series about cedar bark dyeing, you’ll find Part 1 here. There is a long history of dyeing cedar bark using metals such as iron and copper. These processes and stories belong with the Indigenous cultures along the coast here of British Columbia and hopefully if you are interested in learning about them, you will be able to find Indigenous artists who can best support your dyeing journey. In this post, I’ll be focusing on what I’ve been experimenting with to get different greys and true blacks cedar bark strips using natural materials.

Please note: harvesting cedar bark from live trees takes training, knowledge and a deep respect for the trees and forests. Western redcedars (Thuja Plicata) and yellow cedars (Cupressus Nootkatensis) are not adapting well to Climate Change and over-harvesting of bark can kill trees, especially if they are already stressed. If you are trained and are proceeding with cedar bark harvesting, please make sure you are familiar with the practices, teachings, protocols and permissions of the People’s land you are on as we work together to undue and heal the harm of colonialism.

Materials involved: cedar bark strips, iron, tannin and logwood.