Totem Poles;Meanings and Values

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Totem Poles: Meanings 2

And Values3

Totem poles are monumental wooden columns carved from red cedar trees by First Nations people living along the Pacific Northwest coast of North America. We hold Totem Poles to be a cultural symbol of Native people but in reality, there were only six tribes from British Columbia and southeastern Alaska to practice the art of carving and erecting totem poles. The tribes to carve Totem Poles were Bella Coola, Haida, Kuwakiutl, Tlingit, Tsimshian and West Coast. These tribes raised Poles to welcome visitors, to add prestige to their homes, memorize a chief or shame a competing chief. In more recent times poles were also erected to commemorate important events like contract and treaties signed with government, buying and selling land or to represent an organization or important person, but no matter what the occasion Totem Poles are raised to represent and make apparent the presence of First Nation people living in that area. These monuments function as a way of preserving history and cultural heritage as well as honoring tribal rites and spirituality of the people. The Poles are carved with stylized human and animals forms to represent the ancestry of a particular person or family and each image usually narrates a story connected to that particular tribe, family or person. There are six types of Totem Poles, the most common being the Indoor House Pole which supports the roof and Clan Emblem.4

The House Frontal Pole stands by the entrance house, the Heraldic Pole sits in front of the house with the family history, the Burial Poles, which tells the story about the diseased, the Ridicule Pole, which is sometimes erected for debtors, and Potlatch Poles carved exclusively to commemorate festivities.5

The top figure on a Pole usually depicts the Clan Crest. The Eagle, Raven, Thunderbird, Bear, Beaver, Orca and Frog are the most common symbols. Eagles and Thunderbird have carved beaks while the Raven is shown with a straight beak Thunderbirds usually have their wings spread out , Bears and Beavers are depicted with ears on top of their head and Beavers have extremely large teeth. The Orca is easily recognized by its dorsal fin. All Poles share a common graphic style of carving painted figures. Two distinct systems of art were developed for two dimensional and three dimensional figures, but both were kept within a complex design system. The artistic system was developed by Northwestern Coast Native People over many thousands of years and designs were copied from old artifacts and old stone carvings uncovered by archeologists which show of the same design that has been traced though the ages.6

The creation of a Totem Pole would begin with a Chief narrating a story to the carver-artist. The carver would then try to visualize the oral story and thus illustrate those characters that evoked more meaning. Because carvers were responsible of transferring stories into history it was important that they would be acute listeners and assertive enough to be capable of conceptualizing the design.7

Poles were carved from red and yellow cedar using knifes and adzes. The Natives of the Northwest Coast believed the cedar a sacred tree because it provided all the necessary basics for life and in the central Coast area especially the most important dance; ceremonies are orotund around the Red Cedar. Early Poles were painted using local materials, white was obtained from clay, yellow came from ochre’s and red from iron ore, blue from copper ore, and black from charcoal. Carvers in ancient times were valued as highly skilled artisans. Once a log had been selected and brought to the village, it would be laid horizontally on the beach and the carver and helpers would strip the bark and edge away the sapwood. The carver would then create an initial design and representation in charcoal and then work in the painting. Once the Pole was completed, it was carried to the designated place by many invites and guests to the ceremony. The carrying of the Pole was an important event as it involved a whole community to participate as a whole. A procession was accompanied the carrying of the Pole by singing and dancing. Once the Pole was elevated in an upright position, a large hole would be dug, and many people would assist in placing the pole over the hole. Ropes were pulled to straighten the Totem Pole while other people pushed it down with long –poles until the Totem Pole was in place and upright and large rocks were then placed all around the base and in the whole to hold the Pole in place. The ceremony and the raising of the pole carried on with festivities and potlatch. Hillary Stewart in her book “Looking for Totem Poles writes” Different groups had (and still produces varying traditions for the pole raising ceremonies, a popular Haida 1 is for the carver to dance with his tools around his person. Among all groups, the owners of the Pole (or a speaker representing him) explain in detail the story and meaning behind all the carved figures and those assembled to witness the event are expected to remember what they see and hear. A particular fine pole calls for praise, criticism. Compensation enhancing the status of the owner and the reputation of the carver. Feasting and potlatching follows in celebration as one more carved monument stands tall and splendid against the sky.”8

The Natives of the Northwest Coast did not worship Totem Poles but the carved stories of the people and culture inspired respect and veneration as it symbolized wealth prestige and power of a community or on a more spiritual level Totem Poles and recorded encounters with supernatural beings or symbolized the generosity and piety of a member in the community.9

Totem Poles are still being carved in British Columbia and Southeastern Alaska however many other indigenous people have borrowed the craft as a means to make money thought the art is not original to them. 10

Rosa Arlotto11

July 25, 200612