You can build a stripper out of any kind of wood you can get your hands on but the prefered type, WRC, has a lot going for it besides good looks and light weight. It works well which is important because a lot of the process is pure back labor.
The Northern White Cedar idea has some merits. It is lighter than anything comparable. Most of the boat quailty stuff comes from Canada. Way back when it was the premier canoe wood there were plenty of lumber quality trees. Today the few left are worth their weight in gold so you can only get second best. If you can find some and scarf out all the knots you would have wood that should work well.

: Anyone here from Nova Scotia? I'm looking for a source of western red cedar
: that doesn't cost an arm and a leg, which would make paddling difficult...

: I've got a well equipped workshop and can plane and resize rough cut lumber.

: If anyone has used another type of wood more readily available 'out east' I'd
: like to know.