Salvaged Film Project

In the ancient forests of Vancouver Island, towering cedar trees have long been the backbone of First Nations art, culture, and spirituality. These trees, with their deep roots in the land, have provided material for totems, canoes, and other sacred objects for millennia. But as industrial logging continues to ravage the old-growth forests, and the changing climate leaves them vulnerable to drought and rising temperatures, a critical question looms: what will the future of cedar look like for the carvers who depend on it, and how can we sustain a practice that is inseparable from the land itself? Salvaged is a feature-length documentary that explores this question through the stories of First Nations artists who carve the cedar and the Indigenous communities working to ensure the survival of cedar forests. Through the lens of salvaged cedar wood—taken from fallen trees or previously logged areas—we witness both the challenges and hopeful possibilities for the future of carving, culture, and the environment.

Developed for Telus Originals, APTN and Knowledge Network

Executive Producer – Carey Newman

Producers – Mike Wavrecan, and Cody Graham

Director and DOP – Michael Bourquin