Page 1 - 2006 DT 12 Issues

I n T h i s I s s u e

Featured Article
Totem Poles.......................................1

Special
Climb Spree.......................................6

Departments
News & Notes....................................2
January 2006 Programs & Hikes.............................4
Desk Schedule..................................6
Bulletin Board..................................8

your dress . . . long life maker.” or toads, lizards and other animals, and
TOTEM POLES Totem poles could illustrate mythi-
arms, legs, thighs and other parts of the
A n I n d i a n t r i b u t e cal figures of the imagination as well as human body.” All of these were sym-
representations of humans and animals. bols of a person, family or clan. Thus,
to . . . Indians .
They were linked in Indian eyes, kindred the totem can be equated to a heraldic
spirits that shared experiences and even symbol or a family crest.
by Chuck Kleber bodies. In many ways, it was artist’s Some Indian villages became
license to create his interpretation of virtual forests of totem poles. An 1878
otem poles were not religious grandeur for the particular individual photograph shows a Haida village, fac-
monuments to the Great Spirit, as and clan. In doing so, he freely used ing the water, with a long row of totems
Tcommonly believed, but a display symbols to indicate things. An eye
of achievement and wealth by a power- might be placed anywhere to sug- in front of the wooden dwellings. Rais-
ing one could be both an arduous task
ful chief or other important person. They gest acuteness or skill. Animals and and an impressive ceremony, called a
also honored the family or clan and paid humans could be combined into one “potlatch” from the Chinook word for a
tribute to the dead. And there was com- creature. Although
petition, too. A bigger totem pole gave language is not pres-
one more stature. Some reached a height ent, totem poles can be
of 60 feet. It was really self-advertising, “read.” Each tribe had
and a peculiar feature of six tribes in the skilled totem makers
Pacific Northwest – the Haida, Tlingit, with distinctive styles
Kwakiutl, Tsimshian, Bella Coola and Haida totems were
West Coast people. Totems are also works very bold, while the ©Courtesy Bill Tubbs, Vancouver, BC
of art with their many images, a unique Bella Coola spe-
feature in the scene of the Native North cialized in highly
American heritage. decorated supernatu-
The history of the totem pole is ral beings. Nearly
quite brief, for prior to the arrival of all the poles were
the white man with his cutting tools, brightly painted. Totem poles in Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC
especially the axe, the Indians lacked The totem mak-
the means to fell an entire tree. Thus, ers were artists in the fullest sense. In giving festivity. The occasion might be a
totem poles began to appear in the mid his book, A Voyage Around the World marriage, a death or some other suitable
18 century. Cedar trees were a natural 1790-1792, Etienne Marchand said, event. There was feasting and an air of
th
choice since their soft bark made it “Paintings everywhere, everywhere hospitality in celebrating the totem’s
easy for the artist to carve symbols. sculpture, among a nation of hunters.” story. The top of the totem identified
Cedar was also the choice for houses, He went on to give one of the first de- the owner’s clan. The crest might be an
utensils, baskets, rope and even cloth- scriptions of a totem pole, standing at the eagle, a beaver or even a killer whale.
ing. As always, the Indian was grate- entrance to a Haida house: “On the parts From there, you read down. Insight
ful for the blessings of nature. To the of the surface which are not occupied by
cedar tree, the Kwakiutl woman sang: the capital subjects (mythical images of
“Look at me, friend . . . I come to ask for man and beast) are . . . figures of frogs Totem Poles, continued on p. 5