Tag Archives: Northwest Coast

Preserving the Totem Poles of the Northwest

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

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. … Continue reading

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Tolkotin Native Americans: Rituals for the End of Life and Burial

Why Native American traditions for death and dying captivated early explorers.

North America, circa 1831: Irishman Ross Cox had long braved his emigration to America and finally published Adventures on the Columbia River. The early explorer’s book is integral to our understanding of the era, and not just because it informs … Continue reading

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