planted near homes as a source of juniper
ash. Freshly harvested green foliage is burnt
over a pan on a windless day, allowing the ash
to settle. The sifted ash is used for nixtamal-
izing ground corn to enhance its nutritional
properties. Juniper is also used in making
cradleboards, sometimes cleaved from a
living tree in a manner that does not kill it.
Paper birch is another example of a cultur-
ally important species. Birch bark harvesting
is unique in that it is possible to harvest in
the spring without damaging the cambium or
phloem layer, ensuring the tree's health and
constant bark supply. This was often timed
according to the ripening of raspberries.
Perhaps the most well-known use of the bark
is in making canoes, common in the boreal
region. Birch is also the host of birch chaga
fungus (Inonotus obliquus), a traditional
medicine that is still commonly used today.
Ecosystem Services
1
Tree species selection influences the avail-
ability of ecosystem services. Many cultural
practices and traditional medicines are spe-
cific to native tree species. It is important
to engage local Indigenous communities to
identify important cultural practices and
traditional medicines relating to local tree
species. Some examples are provided below.
Some Indigenous uses of tree species relate
to sustenance. For example, small rectan-
gular sections of inner bark or cambium of
lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) were har-
vested to eat by the Stl'atl'imx, a practice
that continues today. Similarly, sap >>
1
This term is disfavored in Indigenous spaces due to
commodifying and compartmentalizing nature, con-
flicting with views of interconnectedness and reciprocity.
Other terms like biocultural theory, socio-ecolog-
ical theory, and relational values may be preferred,
but are still uncommon in urban forest practice.
Birch chaga—a fungus seen at right and ringing the branch
stump—is a traditional medicine, partially harvested
from a birch tree. Photo by Alexander Martin
ucfsociety.org 17
