Native Americans have, historically, used the yew wood and needles in various aspects of their lives. Probably the highest use occurred along the coastal zones of Washington and British Columbia. It was here that uses were recorded for the manufacture of bows, arrows, harpoons, spear handles, paddles, war clubs, digging sticks, wedges, boxes, drums, spoons, dishes, cups, and bowls. Pacific yew is renowned for its value in making bows in native cultures from northern California to Canada and was formerly referred to as the "bow plant" by the Salish people. Bows made from Pacific yew tended to be broad, short, and flat.
Some American Indian peoples traditionally associated Pacific yew with death and bereavement. The fragrant foliage was used as a deodorant and cleaning agent, and tonics made from Pacific yew were used medicinally by many peoples of the Pacific Northwest. Some Native American tribes in Washington used the yew boughs and needles for symbolic building of body strength. Several tribes also have dried the needles for smoking, either in combination with other products or later with tobacco. Although yew seeds are poisonous, the fleshy portions surrounding them were sometimes eaten.
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| The strength and flexibility of yew wood made it especially suited for making excellent bows. Native Americans removed staves from living trees to make bows, sometimes leaving the piece, trimmed at top and bottom and debarked, to cure, still attached to the tree. Trees showing scars resulting from this use are considered cultural artifacts. |
From "The Yew and People: Cultural Resources" in Pacific Yew: Draft Environmental Impact Statement. U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Interior, and Health and Human Services. January 1993. Reprinted with permission.