Totem Poles: A Symbol of Pacific Northwest Tribes

In the Pacific Northwest, British Columbia and Southeast Alaska there are 6 styles of carved art. The most well commonly known art form is known as Totem poles also known as “story-telling poles.” Totem poles are tall poles carved from red cedar tree logs that represent the mythology and beliefs of tribes. The most well-known tribes who created totems along the coast are the Haida and Tlingit tribes. The carvings may include animals, plants, ancestor or mythological creatures.

The Hadia tribe is located in British Columbia; which the largest group can be found in Ninstints Village. Their totem poles are known for their prosperous detail and exclusive style. Haida had four primary figures which include Orca, Bear, Frog, and Raven. The animals

They also use the Northern style which uses the color scheme red, black, and blue-green “turquoise.” Tlingit people carved interior house post, Portal entrance and totem poles. These figures have animals, sea creatures, and birds. They combined realism and symbolism in there art work. The Tlingit tribe is separated into two moieties raven and eagle then are put in several different clan. These clans have crest that represent their clan embedded on their totems. When creating totem poles they follow a stylistic rule to be able to easily identify. For example the ravens must have straight beaks and eagles will have curved beaks. One of the greatest things Tlingit tribe is known for is their potlach ceremonies. Potlach’s consist of music, dancing, gifts and a feast. They are typically celebrated when a totem is raised, or celebration of a death lasting for an estimated of 4

The Raven also known as the “tricksters” story began when he discovered an old rich man named Naas-shaki; who had a box containing the sun, moon and stars “the light” which the raven wanted to steal from him after many unsuccessful attempts the raven decided to transform himself into a hemlock needle and dropped into the water his daughter had been drinking from the river. She then became pregnant and gave birth to the Raven as a baby boy. The grandfather began to spoil him and give him whatever he desired. The raven began to cry over the box on the shelf continuously after telling his grandchild no. Days later he gave in and allowed him to play with the stars, as he was playing with the stars rolling the box on the floor back and forth he then allowed them to roll up the smoke whole and into the sky. The following day he began to cry again until he received the box with the moon he was then given the box as well and began to roll it back and forth across the floor and up the chimney into the sky. The final day he cried and cried until the box was given to him with the sun but this time he did not roll it up the chimney. He began to play and waited for everyone to sleep he then turned into a bird and gathered the box in his beak and goes up the chimney not releasing it into the sky he had taken it to show off that he has captured the sun from the rich man and when he