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Totem

Totem Poles The totem pole, which is unique to the Northwest Coast, might be considered a sort of coat-of-arms. Totems inspired considerable awe because of the tribal traditions represented by the symbolic figures carved on them. Tradition dictated the symbolic form each carving should take, so it is relatively simple to recognize which crests occur on a particular pole. It is not always possible, though, to "read" a totem pole's story easily. Knowledge of Native mythology helps one to understand the significance of some combinations of crests, but some totem tales are lost in the past.

The function of totem poles varied somewhat among the different peoples, but overall they were historic monuments, or documents of great meaning and value to the cultures that carved them. Welcome Poles were used to greet visitors arriving for a feast or potlatch. House Frontal or Portal poles added splendor and prestige to the integral construction of housing. Special achievements, crests and figures appeared on Memorial or Mortuary poles. Shame poles were carved to ridicule or shame a rival, when restitution was made the pole came down. More recently, a new category of pole exists, commercial poles. The art and carving of commercial poles usually follows tradition and they are raised with great ceremony. The significance of these newer poles is their strong reminder of the First Nations people and their long-standing presence on the land. Overall, totem poles display images that represent people's origins and lineages, their rights and privileges, their supernatural experiences, their achievements, their territories, marriages, and memorials. These recorded histories gave the people cultural identity. Totem poles are a marvelous legacy to be protected and valued.