“I’ve never seen a tree make so much medicine. Maybe it weeps so much for all the poison here.”

The above quote, relayed to Lucas Olivet by Prince George resident Randy Dakota, was the inspiration for the title of this book which is centered around the capital of northern BC: the title a testimony, a tribute, a prayer.

Featuring an essay by Lauren Haddad, ‘Medicine Tree’ offers a lyrical and tense reflection on a region at once wild and poisoned by industry, unknown to the majority of Vancouverites, by passed by tourists, silently servicing the country’s (Canada, the US, China, pick one) pulp and paper needs. 

Dakota, standing in the gravel next to his trailer, was referring to a black spruce sticky with resin.

Essay by Lauren Haddad