Prior to the mid-20th century L'nu'k passed along the tradition of growing and planting trail trees along their sacred pathways. Sadly, forced centralization and the kidnapping of several generations into Residential School meant L'nu'k lost the knowledge of this sacred practise.

Fieldwork suggests that each heir to this tradition was assigned his/her species in childhood, nursed them from seed somewhere (trail tree nursery?), planted them along the trail, and then over his/her lifetime culturally modified them as appropriate. These trail trees are now critically endangered in Mi'kma'ki and we are at risk of losing the knowledge of direction, seasonality and spatial significance to the landscape they represent. We welcome observations of snags, and deadfall as well as standing live examples to this project. We are still relearning how to translate this language and welcome knowledge, theory and even speculation.

What we think we know, is that the path between the forks of trail trees represented the direction, if more than one direction was indicated this was a crossroads or a turn tree. If there were many modified branches in all directions this was an arrival and/or prayer tree. Some were used as burial markers. Note: If you find what you think is a L'nu'k burial in Mi'kma'ki this should be reported to the local band. It is illegal for anyone, even an archaeologist to disturb an indigenous burial in Canada.

We only have theories for Twist trail trees. Some of them are:

1. Whistlestops? - twist trees appear on the trail tree trail as we approach signs of an indigenous village and seem to become less twisted the closer we get. 6 twists away - 6 whistles etc. So perhaps the trees were there as distance markers and/or a reminder to give a warning to villagers of your approach?
2. Trail tree ancestor burials - twist trees sometimes appear on burials with two different species. Did grandson bury grandad with his signature trail tree and then twist his own signature species in respect? We don't know. If you do, please share :)
3. Meeting place from two different directions (2 villages)

There is a lot that we don't know and continue to discover and that is the fun of this project. Please join us.