The Coast Salish region extends from the northern Vancouver Island and Lower Mainland areas to western Washington state. Coast Salish people to refer to the Western Red Cedar as the 'tree of life' because it provides materials for longhouses, canoes, clothing, etc.

The Coast  Salish lived in longhouses built of thick cedar planks. These early people chopped down and split massive cedar trees using beaver teeth and stone axes.

The longhouses were huge. Some were about 100 feet long and 25 feet wide, with low roofs for easy heating. The only openings in the whole building was the entrance door and a whole in the roof to allow the smoke to escape.

Many generations of families lived together. Sometimes as many as 10 families.

We each got a frame that was shaped like a box. On the roof we drew some tiles and then we had to cut out a hole. After that we put glue on the two sides and then attached it to the building. (that was the hard part!)

Next we made a door, then we added the cedar planks on the side. 

Then we painted the cedar planks.