Totem Pole

Totem pole A Gitxsan pole (left) and Kwakwaka'wakw pole (right) at Thunderbird Park in Victoria, Canada. Totem poles (Haida: gyáaʼaang) [1] are monumental carvings found in western Canada and the northwestern United States. They are a type of Indigenous Northwest Coast art, consisting of poles, posts or pillars, carved with symbols or figures.

Learn about totem poles, carved and painted logs that represent the symbols and stories of the Native Americans of the Northwest Coast. Find out the different kinds of totem poles, their functions, and how to interpret their animal images and legends. Learn about the origins, types, and functions of totem poles, the cultural icons of the Pacific Northwest tribes.

See photos of totem poles from different regions, eras, and styles, and discover their stories and significance. The carvings on totem poles often depict animals, mythical creatures, and important figures from the tribe's history. Each figure on the pole has a specific meaning or represents a part of a story.

For example, an eagle might symbolize strength and leadership, while a raven could represent a trickster or a creator figure. These totem poles are symbols of a community's history, values, and traditions, but not the base of a religion. Each aspect of a totem pole is as important and individualized as the animal it is based on.

The four clans that have a particularly rich history involving the totem pole are the Eyak, Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian cultures. Learn about the history, types and meanings of totem poles, sculptures carved by indigenous people of North America. Explore the images, design your own totem pole and find out your spirit animal.

Totem poles have become some of the most iconic symbols of "Native American culture," but it's important to understand their origin and to honor their ongoing significance for the clans to. Learn about the history, culture, and art of totem poles, the monuments created by First Nations of the Pacific Northwest. Explore the different types, carving techniques, and regional variations of totem poles, and their significance in cultural revitalization.

Totem poles in front of houses in Alert Bay, British Columbia in the 1900s. The disruptions following Euro. Learn about the origins, construction, symbolism, and types of totem poles, a powerful expression of Indigenous cultures along the Pacific Northwest coast.

Discover how totem poles have evolved from ancient storytelling to modern art and activism.