Discover the living history in our forests! Join us for a guided exploration of culturally modified trees (CMTs)-living trees that have been shaped and marked by Indigenous peoples for generations as part of their cultural traditions.
Event Details:
Dates: Friday, August 22 – Sunday, August 24, 2025
Location: Benet Hill Monastery
Who Can Attend: Commuters welcome! Single or double occupancy with shared bathrooms available. Discounted full weekend packages offered.
Who Should Attend: Open to all ages-nature lovers, history enthusiasts, and anyone curious about the stories our landscapes hold.
What Are Culturally Modified Trees?
CMTs are trees that bear visible signs of human modification, such as peeled bark, carved scars, shaped branches, or cut limbs. These modifications were made for many reasons:
- Harvesting bark or cambium for food, medicine, baskets, and canoes
- Marking trails and important locations-like living signposts
- Spiritual or ceremonial purposes
- Creating shelters or storage spaces
Why Are CMTs Important?
CMTs are invaluable cultural resources. They offer insight into Indigenous lifeways, traditional ecological knowledge, and sustainable forest use. Each tree tells a story-of ancestors, survival, and stewardship of the land.
What to Expect:
- Guided walk to identify and interpret local CMTs
- Learn how to recognize cultural modifications and understand their significance
- Discussion on the importance of protecting these living artifacts for future generations
Questions or need more info?
Contact Sister Jan Ginzkey at
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Come walk among the trees and experience the living legacy of our region’s first peoples.
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