Conveying a wealth of stories and legends, suffused with the spirit of the people who carved and raised them, British Columbia's totem poles can be read as if they were history books.
BY CAROLYNE PARENT
Totem poles stand proudly in Vancouver, Duncan and Victoria, alone or in groups. Carved from cedar trees, some poles are painted, others are not. But all depict a series of intertwined mystical creatures and mythical animals, and all showcase the remarkable talent of the sculptors who created them. Small wonder that these towering artworks provoke a sense of awe, for a part of the collective memory of the Pacific Northwest Coast First Nations courses the length of each mysterious pole.
Long ago, coastal Aboriginal peoples began recording in wood their history, culture and feats. The tradition began in the late 18th century, when trade with European explorers gave First Nations artists access to tools with which to sculpt "the Tree of Life."
The flourishing trade between Aboriginal peoples and Europeans also gave rise to more and more potlatches, occasions of feasting and gift-giving that became increasingly elaborate. Because tradition dictated that a totem pole be erected at each potlatch, the art of pole-carving blossomed during this period, as Pat Kramer explains in Totem Poles (Altitude Publishing).
Recording History
This was also the period when totem-pole art became systematized. For example, a totem pole at a chief's longhouse, whether standing outside the dwelling or carved directly onto the housepost, featured heraldic symbols that conveyed the lineage and status of household members.
Mortuary poles were topped with a platform large enough to hold a box containing the remains of an important person. It is said that all friends of the deceased had to keep vigil, and that over successive nights they would withdraw, one by one, until only one person was left. That person could then communicate with the spirit of the departed.
A memorial or commemorative pole depicted the special events and achievements in a family's life, while a narrative pole affirmed its owner's right to tell stories and sing ancestral songs about his phratry, or group of clans.
Stylized Shapes
Of all of the ornate, stylized beings depicted on totem poles, the most familiar are those of the tribes' protective animals, each of which is endowed with specific qualities. The bear symbolizes the spirit of sacrifice, for instance, the fox embodies the intelligence of the earth, the frog represents generosity and the raven signifies honour, while Siskiutl the sea serpent stands for the bravery of warriors.
But the most important creature of them all is the Thunderbird. Long before his name became associated with a car model, the Thunderbird was a mythical eagle that sent thunder rolling from the tips of his wings, lighting flashing from his eyes and rain falling from a lake on his back.
The Thunderbird is at the centre of numerous Aboriginal legends. One holds that he lifted a voracious whale from the sea because it was causing a famine in a fishing village, and changed it into a mountain set down near the city of Duncan on Vancouver Island. By way of thanks, a local chief promised the Thunderbird that an emblem in his likeness would crown all totem poles erected in his honour. That promise is kept even now - the Thunderbird is still one of the most popular images on totem poles.
Magnificent Artworks
Sadly, many totem poles were destroyed in the mid-1900s at the instigation of overzealous missionaries who saw the poles as pagan idols. A good number of poles were later shipped to museums abroad, and countless others disintegrated before they could be reproduced (the life span of a totem pole carved out of cedar is about 85 years). But fortunately, some magnificent samples survive in British Columbia, mainly in Vancouver and on Vancouver Island.
Whether a replica of a century-old pole or the work of a latter-day artist who is proudly carrying on the tradition, a totem pole is meant to convey a piece of the gripping story of Canada's First Nations. Visitors to B.C. could do a lot worse than listen to the tales totem poles tell.
source: Canadian Tourism Commision
This reproduction is not represented as an official version of the materials reproduced, nor has it been made in affiliation with or with the endorsement of the Canadian Tourism Commission.
Click here for more information on British Columbia
BY CAROLYNE PARENT
Totem poles stand proudly in Vancouver, Duncan and Victoria, alone or in groups. Carved from cedar trees, some poles are painted, others are not. But all depict a series of intertwined mystical creatures and mythical animals, and all showcase the remarkable talent of the sculptors who created them. Small wonder that these towering artworks provoke a sense of awe, for a part of the collective memory of the Pacific Northwest Coast First Nations courses the length of each mysterious pole.
Long ago, coastal Aboriginal peoples began recording in wood their history, culture and feats. The tradition began in the late 18th century, when trade with European explorers gave First Nations artists access to tools with which to sculpt "the Tree of Life."
The flourishing trade between Aboriginal peoples and Europeans also gave rise to more and more potlatches, occasions of feasting and gift-giving that became increasingly elaborate. Because tradition dictated that a totem pole be erected at each potlatch, the art of pole-carving blossomed during this period, as Pat Kramer explains in Totem Poles (Altitude Publishing).
Recording History
This was also the period when totem-pole art became systematized. For example, a totem pole at a chief's longhouse, whether standing outside the dwelling or carved directly onto the housepost, featured heraldic symbols that conveyed the lineage and status of household members.
Mortuary poles were topped with a platform large enough to hold a box containing the remains of an important person. It is said that all friends of the deceased had to keep vigil, and that over successive nights they would withdraw, one by one, until only one person was left. That person could then communicate with the spirit of the departed.
A memorial or commemorative pole depicted the special events and achievements in a family's life, while a narrative pole affirmed its owner's right to tell stories and sing ancestral songs about his phratry, or group of clans.
Stylized Shapes
Of all of the ornate, stylized beings depicted on totem poles, the most familiar are those of the tribes' protective animals, each of which is endowed with specific qualities. The bear symbolizes the spirit of sacrifice, for instance, the fox embodies the intelligence of the earth, the frog represents generosity and the raven signifies honour, while Siskiutl the sea serpent stands for the bravery of warriors.
But the most important creature of them all is the Thunderbird. Long before his name became associated with a car model, the Thunderbird was a mythical eagle that sent thunder rolling from the tips of his wings, lighting flashing from his eyes and rain falling from a lake on his back.
The Thunderbird is at the centre of numerous Aboriginal legends. One holds that he lifted a voracious whale from the sea because it was causing a famine in a fishing village, and changed it into a mountain set down near the city of Duncan on Vancouver Island. By way of thanks, a local chief promised the Thunderbird that an emblem in his likeness would crown all totem poles erected in his honour. That promise is kept even now - the Thunderbird is still one of the most popular images on totem poles.
Magnificent Artworks
Sadly, many totem poles were destroyed in the mid-1900s at the instigation of overzealous missionaries who saw the poles as pagan idols. A good number of poles were later shipped to museums abroad, and countless others disintegrated before they could be reproduced (the life span of a totem pole carved out of cedar is about 85 years). But fortunately, some magnificent samples survive in British Columbia, mainly in Vancouver and on Vancouver Island.
Whether a replica of a century-old pole or the work of a latter-day artist who is proudly carrying on the tradition, a totem pole is meant to convey a piece of the gripping story of Canada's First Nations. Visitors to B.C. could do a lot worse than listen to the tales totem poles tell.
source: Canadian Tourism Commision
This reproduction is not represented as an official version of the materials reproduced, nor has it been made in affiliation with or with the endorsement of the Canadian Tourism Commission.
Click here for more information on British Columbia
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