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I live on a land of is filled with nature such as plants, flowers, trees, animals, and etc. My house is in the middle of the forest where I am surrounded by trees whether it’s big or small. To get to my house there is a little curve before you get to the house. Everyday as I walk to my house I would never actually notice this tree. This tree in question is important to me because it is an indicator to me that I am close to my house now. Basically, I would feel safe if I see this tree. However, lately I been thinking about this tree. I see that this tree is big, green, looks fresh and strong. From the look of how tall this tree is it must have been there for some times now it anything for a long time. 

Later on, I wonder about this tree. I wonder how did this tree get here? How did this tree manage to grow this tall and got so big? What kind of food sources is this tree getting and is it delicious? I know that trees use their roots to find food so I wonder how long is the roots? How far does the root goes to find food for it body? I wonder if the tree ever gets lonely or alone during storm? How did it manage to stay strong during the storm? Or does it fight? 

I feel like I would want to be able to connect and communicate with this tree in order form me to understand or even have a sense of what is it like to be a tree. I feel excited and eager to find and search for answers for my wonderings.

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When I looked at this tree, I thought that this tree was a Christmas tree because of the shape, colour, and texture of the leaves. However, I don’t believe that a Christmas tree would be this tall though, so I did some research. I discovered that this tree is Western hemlock or Tsuga heterophylla (a native species), and it can live up to 500 years because the seed can be anywhere and everywhere. This tree could survive and preferred to grow in the cold even, no wonder this tree looks so fresh and green even during the driest time of the year. Although I notice that this kind of tree will not produce any cones during the winter, I wonder if this tree is actually growing in the cold or surviving in the cold?

Indigenous people use this tree’s bark to make bread and to build boxes. Another use is paper pulp, which is used during the process of making paper. I also discovered that. Since seed time, these seeds can endure extreme conditions, which answers my question about how this tree is so strong and survived the harsh weather.

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News flash: I just found out more information about this tree. I may have been getting the wrong species when I thought this tree was western or mountain hemlock. After doing some research, I found that these trees are very similar, which, to me, as a person who does not know anything about nature, is very confusing. I thought about it, even if I got the wrong tree, but it made me feel more observant. For example, I am now trying to identify what a spruce looks like or what species the Christmas tree belongs to.

Every day, when I walk past, I wonder whether I am walking on top of the roots. Or when the summer comes, when I step on the roots, does that hurt the tree? I also thought about how I connect with this tree and how I can connect with this tree. How can I acknowledge the land when our lives are filled with busy things such as Jobs, school, and chores?

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I did some more research and asked around about the tree because it was concluded that it is definitely not a western or mountain Hemlock. Everyone around me kinda said that it looks like it could be a spruce when I look at the picture, and it does look like it. When I went on the CPAWS walk with Joti (not sure how to spell her name), I asked her about my tree, and she said that it is a spruce. However, she was not sure since she does not have that much knowledge about trees, so I asked someone I knew, and he said that it is a white spruce because black spruce are usually in places that are wet and more moist, which in our area at my house is dry.

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Facts about my tree:

40 species of spruce trees

Growing in cold and moist areas

Can grow tall about 50 to 150 feet or 15 to 46 meters

Can live for over 100 years

Many birds, squirrels, and small mammals are using these trees for habitats

Use for its timber such making broad of a piano, body of  the violin

Spruce is also used in the construction of boats and barrels and as a source of pulp from which paper is made.

Indigenous people use spruce cuts to make chewing gum.

Spruce pitch is good for cuts, scrapes, rashes, burns, pimples, eczema, dry, cracked skin, slivers, and insect bites. It can also be used for sore throats, muscle pain, earaches, and chicken pox.

Crafting and weaving: basket, dishes, sewing seam. The younger trees are making snowshoes and bows.

Spirit significant: protection, symbolism (in Indigenous lens)

Glue: arrowheads and bows

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By working on this project, I realized that sometimes we do not appreciate nature or the land as much as we need to because the land came to us as much, and all we did was take it. Sometimes, we need everything from nature, and we do not always have to rely on chemicals. For example, right now, I’ve been using the spruce pitch for my pimple issue, and it's going great. My skin is so much better and more harmless. We always tell or teach children that taking only what you need is the key, but I also find it essential to recognize and acknowledge the purpose behind the product we took from the land.

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I am living on unceded land. I acknowledge that I am living on Kwanlin Dün land as a visitor. I respect that the land and nature are important to Indigenous people, such as resources, food, protection, and spirit. I will continue to learn and acknowledge the land and learn from indigenous.

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What can you give back to the land?

How can the land ever be in peace?

How can the land and people live together in peace?

how can we give and teach other people who don't care about trees: showing them why you care?

What does it mean to you?

What have you taken?

What has it given to you?

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waiting for this tree to produce its cones

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My thought about that rush life we have is consuming our thoughts about the land. We are always so busy with our lives that we sometimes forget to thank the land and what it has given us. Sometimes, the land gives us what we need, but our greed is taking over, and it can never get enough. I talked about getting yourself from point A to point B, with point B being our final destination. However, have we thought that the middle of the journey is our final destination? We do not have to reach the end, point B, to make it the ending. The middle could be our ending as well.

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Advocating to protect the land and the trees is hard, but courage and voices can make a change, even if it is a small change.

I can say that sometimes I do not appreciate the land enough, but goodness happened to me, so I am grateful that it happened to me so that I could tell and teach others why it is important to acknowledge and learn from the land. I will continue to learn and acknowledge the land.

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I am curious as to what can happen next after this project since this project has helped me with my observation skills, my skills to connect with my live events, helping children to learn about these skills and how to keep on building these skills. I thought about how this little project in class could be such a stepping stone for me in the field.