Snuneymuxw carvers constructed their canoes from carefully selected Western Redcedars (Thuja plicata). These giant trees grow right up to the shore, but it is rare to find a tall, straight tree with good grain and few branches. These were sought in the deeper forest, where the carvers would test the strength of the inner wood of the tree before falling it with a wedge and cutting tools. A tree of the right height could be between 400 and 800 years old and of massive size, so some of the shaping was done in the rainforest before dragging the log to the beach for carving. The Snuneymuxw are intimately connected to the cedars and give thanks for the benefits of the trees. The cedars, in turn, are perfectly suited to being carved into watercraft, from their great size and tight grain to the natural, rot-reducing oils found in mature trees.

A new generation of Snuneymuxw are aspiring to become canoe carvers, studying under the expertise of the few who still hold this knowledge. It has become a challenge to craft canoes in the traditional manner from tall, strong giant Redcedars, because there are so few of the old-growth trees left. The giant cedars have long been the target of logging, and there are few available or affordable to canoe builders. This environmental change has caused a shift in the craft, resulting in strip canoes, which are constructed from several segments of cedar fitted together, rather than a single tree.

Racing canoes can be made from fibreglass, and carvers are starting to look to other tree species, such as White Pine (Pinus monticola). This tree grows in the Snuneymuxw territory, can reach heights of over 40 metres, and is known for its symmetry. Paddles are traditionally made from Bigleaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum). Yellow Cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis) is sometimes used for paddle carving.