The Golden Spruce

The Golden Spruce: A True Story of Myth, Madness, and Greed is a work of environmental non-fiction published in 2005 by Vancouver-based writer John Vaillant. It tells the controversial true story of the felling of a sacred tree known as the Golden Spruce in the Queen Charlotte Islands of British Columbia. Mass media attention captured the aftermath of the event and it caused an uproar that united both people of Native American and European descent as they mourned the loss of a powerful Canadian image. The Golden Spruce is Vaillant’s first book and was adapted from his New Yorker article on the same topic which chronicled the rebellious environmentalist Grant Hadwin who felled the tree and then mysteriously disappeared soon after.

Vaillant details the origin of the name Golden Spruce from the language of the Native Haidan Indians in the Pacific Northwest. It translates as Kiidk’yaas, meaning “Elder Spruce Tree.” Approximately 200 years ago, the spruce with unusual gold leaves began to grow. At a larger-than-life 165 feet tall, it became honored by all who passed through the region, even as the logging industry developed and deforestation spread. The logging process of felling trees is described by Vaillant in great detail, and he gives captivating descriptions of the relationship between the Haidan people and the Europeans who colonized their land and introduced them to the industrialization of the environment. He delves into the past and the battles between the Haidans and Europeans over the sea otter trade in the 18th century.  The Europeans had introduced the use of logging trees for ship-building and found their usefulness in World War II in the building of planes. There is an emphasis on the dangerousness of the profession and the deaths it has caused. However, Vaillant does not sentimentalize the plight of the Haidans as their land becomes commercialized. His research shows that even before the Europeans arrived to the Queen Charlotte Islands, the Haidan people were responsible for their own environmental monstrosities and were driving some animals to extinction.

The Golden Spruce is described as a tourist attraction held dear by the residents of Port Clements and its existence was seen by many as a legend. It was the one tree untouched by the capitalist spirit and worshipped for its natural beauty.

Amidst the history of the tree, Vaillant tells the story of Grant Hadwin, a logger who appears to take pleasure in his job until he experiences a spiritual awakening and becomes obsessed with the impact the logging industry is having on the environment. He tells his superiors that he can no longer tolerate the hypocrisy of keeping a tree like the Golden Spruce alive because of its beauty while so many innocent trees are cut down daily. He sees the Golden Spruce as a cover-up for the shamefulness of the logging industry’s actions. His obsession leads him to write to the government and media as he tries to find ways to communicate the urgency of the problem to the outside world. Vaillant doesn’t delve as much into Hadwin’s personal background as he does the geographical background of the region, but he describes Hadwin’s family life briefly, as well as some of the mental health history that may have led Hadwin to have what many believed to be a psychotic break.

The mysterious ending to The Golden Spruce culminates with Hadwin swimming naked with a chainsaw and additional equipment across the Yakoun River on a freezing January night. He goes to the Golden Spruce and hacks away at it until it is teetering and weak, but still standing. Then he runs off and the tree falls two days later on its own, knocking down many other trees in its wake. This action is taken to show the people of the Pacific Northwest the delusional nature of their worshipping one tree while leaving others to die.

Hadwin is arrested and scheduled to make an appearance in court, but soon after he disappears. Five months later, his belongings are found scattered on the shore of an uninhabited island. Some say he is killed making his escape, but as he is known for his skilled ability to survive in the wilderness, his whereabouts are still considered a mystery.

Although the story recognizes the haunting nature of man’s relationship to nature, some critics were disappointed with the uneven balance of history and character development in the book, describing the psychological depth as lacking. Vaillant does not dwell long on Hadwin’s story. His potential mental illness and the dynamics of his family are topics not delved into deeply, nor are some of his extensive travels before his descent into madness. One critic from Quill & Quire expresses regret that the important question evoked by the story is never answered: “How can loggers claim to revere the forest they destroy?” The shocking elements of Hadwin’s story distracts from this question.