The People’s Tree

HAYWOOD COUNTY, N.C. – Each year since 1970, “The People’s Tree” is chosen from the national park system in the United States to adorn the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol building. This year, a 78-foot Red Spruce named “Ruby,” was cut down in a private ceremony in the Pisgah National Forest, located in Western North Carolina.

An Arborist hanging from a crane to secure the tree for movement – Image credit: E. Thornton

In attendance at the special event were members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee, the U.S Forest Service, members of the media, and a special performance from Woody Platt (formerly of Steep Canyon Rangers) and Shannon Whitworth. The event also featured the legend of the Evergreen, as told by this year’s youth tree lighter, Coche Tiger, in the native Cherokee language, as well as in English.

The Mission

The term “The People’s Tree” is a reflection of the “People’s House” or the U.S. House of Representatives as the tree is chosen from public lands each year via the USDA-Forest Service, and the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Program.

This year’s theme is “Mountains to Sea” showcasing the tremendous amount of biodiversity in North Carolina from the Appalachian mountains to the coast. Ruby has made several stops along the way to Washington D.C., raising awareness of North Carolina’s National Forests, while also instilling the importance of conservation with special events being held along the way.

Partnering with Choose Outdoors, a nonprofit whose mission is to connect Americans to public land through outdoor education, North Carolina’s Forest Service began a yearlong campaign in 2021 to not only educate on the importance of conservation but to also let the public know that the lands are there to be explored.

Adrianne Rubiaco – Image courtesy of  USDA-Forest Service, Public Affairs

The yearlong process also included finding Ruby, with biologists, arborists, conservationists all working together to find the perfect, “critter less” tree that represented North Carolina with funding coming from donors and sponsors across the country.

Adrianne Rubiaco, Public Affairs for the Forest Service spoke to The Wild Hunt concerning the significance and just how important an opportunity this was to educate those across the state about conservation and public land use.

Rubiaco said, “This means so much to me and it provides us with an amazing opportunity to connect with our public and connect them with public lands. With over 100 outreach events over the past year, we have been able to reach communities across the state. Not everyone realizes how close their public lands are to them and not everyone realizes what forestry means for our ecosystems.”

Ruby will not only showcase artwork and ornaments from communities and groups across the state of North Carolina while standing tall in the U.S. Capitol but will also contribute to the preservation of the Red Spruce, via the partnership with Southern Highlands Reserve, located in Lake Toxaway, North Carolina.

Ruby’s seeds were harvested and will be planted in a greenhouse at the reserve, along with others funded by private donors and sponsors of the U.S. Capital Christmas Tree Program. Ruby herself will be made into musical instruments at the commencement of her time at the White House.

Joey Owl and Coche Tiger, as Tiger recites the Legend of the Evergreen. E. Thornton

Secretary of Natural Resources and Agriculture for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Joey Owl, who spoke at the event explained to TWH the importance of this harvest to the Cherokee people.

“I think it’s important for the tribe to be involved and to be included in this. It’s tremendous that they reached out to us as well to choose a tree lighter for this year’s Capitol Christmas Tree. We are just honored for the partnership and the meaningful effort from the Forest Service for the tribe to be involved.”

Cherokee legend of the evergreen

While Pagans traditionally use the evergreen for winter festivals or to decorate altars during the harsh winters to remind them of the Spring and renewal to come, the Cherokee have their own legend.

The Cherokee Legend of the Evergreen begins with a contest from the “Great Mystery” or “Creator.” The Great Mystery wanted to give a gift to each plant and tree species but didn’t know which would be most useful to each. So, the Great Mystery told each of the plants and trees to stay awake and watch over the earth for seven nights.

On the first night, all the plants stayed awake from the excitement and opportunity to watch over the earth. The second night a few of the young plants fell asleep as dawn approached. On the third night, they all tried to whisper to each other to stay awake, but many fell asleep. On the fourth night, many more fell asleep, and by the seventh, even the Larch wasn’t immune to sleep.

The only plants still awake by the seventh night were the cedar, the fir, the spruce, the holly, and the laurel. The Great Mystery was very proud of them and bestowed upon them a very special gift for their endurance. The Great Mystery gave them the gift of remaining green forever and explained to them that they were now the guardians of the forest.

“Even in the dead of winter, your brother and sister creatures will find that life is protected in your branches,” the Great Mystery told the evergreen trees. From that day forth, all the other plants and trees lost their leaves and slept through the winter while the evergreens stayed awake and guarded the forests.

The lighting ceremony for Ruby, the red spruce, took place this evening, on November 29 at the U.S. Capital, with special guest Coche Tiger from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians performing the honor.

Editorial note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the tree would be installed on west lawn of the White House instead of the U.S. Capitol building.


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