Hase: The Breath of Life reflects the profound relationship between humanity and the living world within Kwakwaka’wakw teachings. Before cedar bark is harvested, a prayer is spoken: “As I breathe life into you, you breathe life into me.” This exchange acknowledges the spirit held within the cedar tree and the interconnected life carried throughout the forest. Harvesting is not viewed as taking, but as entering into a relationship built on respect, reciprocity, and gratitude.

For the Kwakwaka’wakw people, the forest is not separate from ourselves — it is a living extension of our existence. The trees, waters, animals, and land are bound together through spirit and breath, reminding us that our survival, identity, and wellbeing are inseparable from nature. Through this work, Rande Cook reflects on the importance of protecting these living systems, recognizing that humanity exists because of the natural world, not apart from it.