Preserving the Totem Poles of the Northwest

Clans indigenous to the Northwest Coast saw totem pole carving as a crucial end-of-life tradition
totem pole sunset

Photo credit: flickr.com

Their beautiful, intricate designs have made totem poles an icon of the Northwest Coast. Way before they graced the sides of planes and backs of tourism brochures, however, totem poles played an important role in the region’s indigenous end-of-life tradition.

For hundreds of years, natives of the Northwest Coast honored their dead through the creation of the intricately carved poles. “They were first noticed by European explorers in the 1700s,” says NPR’s Robert Smith, “[but those] totem poles may have been misunderstood. Britain’s Captain James Cook, who encountered totem poles off the coast of British Columbia, called them “truly monstrous figures.” Early missionaries thought the poles were worshipped as gods and encouraged them to be burned.”

“…totem poles may have been misunderstood”

Totem Poles

Photo credit: DennisTsang

In reality, totem poles served as a symbol of unity and family history for a clan, reminding each member of the invaluable link between the living and their “spirit-ancestors.”

The average height of a totem pole is a towering 70 feet (21.3m), but that wasn’t always the case. The mammoth-sized poles we think of today only became possible as a result of indigenous contact with European explorers (hence European tools). It wasn’t until the 18th century that the poles could be made larger than the size of a walking stick – and gradually, to the size of a tree.

“It wasn’t until the 18th century that the poles could be made larger than the size of a walking stick – and gradually, to the size of a tree.”

Unfortunately, the lifespan of a wooden totem pole is limited. So, in an effort to preserve the heritage of indigenous peoples, carvers began making replicas of decomposing poles while the design was still intact.

totem pole mortuary totem pole alaskan art

Haida mortuary pole at Skidegate, 1884.
Photo credit: sfu.ca

Today, a beautiful replica of a Tsimshian memorial pole can be found in northern British Columbia. The replicated pole (the original created in 1800) was carved by Bill Holm in the village of Gitlakhdamks in 1969. The pole is covered with detailed images of a “humanoid bear,” a bird and a sea-bear, all to honor the life of a particular clan chief who has passed on. And, explains the Burke Museum of Natural History, the erection of a pole was also a conspicuous sign that a new chief would soon take over.

“The pole is covered with detailed images of a “humanoid bear,” a bird and a sea-bear, all to honor the life of a particular clan chief who has passed on.”

In many cases, totem poles even contained the actual remains of an important clan member. Known as mortuary totem poles, these monuments “had a cavity in the top which held the burial box inside,” explains Simon Fraser University, “[and the] remains of a chief or high ranking person were placed in the box a year after the death.”

Related Articles:

  • Learn more about totem poles from Simon Fraser Univeristy here.
  • Visit the Burke Museum of Natural History’s website here.
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4 Responses to Preserving the Totem Poles of the Northwest

  1. avatar John Mooy says:

    My wife is a children’s book illustrator. In our yard we cut down a tree and left twelve feet of it standing. She is shaping / carving / and ultimately it will be one of the tools of her trade. A giant pencil. She was asking me what could be done to preserve it. I don’t know other than to spray it with a polyurethane. Your thoughts and ideas would be greatly appreciated.

    John Mooy

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  2. avatar Kathleen Clohessy (Blog Writer, SevenPonds) says:

    Hi John,

    Mary Frances isn’t with SevenPonds anymore, and I’m afraid I have no clue what you should do. I looked at a few websites and it seems that, once cut, the tree likely won’t survive. You could try polyurethane, but I’m not sure it’s a good idea.

    I wish I could be more help. Maybe you could speak to someone at a nursery to get some ideas???

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  3. avatar Brianna says:

    I need to make a Totem pole for 7th grade ELA, we are learning about them, but it has to be a mini totem pole… I just don’t know how to make one, I don’t think I have the resources. I has to be at least as tall as a Paper Towel Roll holder, so about 9 inches, my teacher said it has to be like 9 inches, and she said the paper towel roll is too short and skinny, it will probably fall over! I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO! Can you help me, and tell me what kinds of things I could use to create a totem pole without wood?

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  4. avatar Michelle Borg says:

    I have a totem pole around 20ft tall eagle on top down to whale on bottom. I believe it was carved by a north American Indian many moons ago. How could I find out more. It’s been in our family for decades

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