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Sep 9, 2024 · Totem pole, carved and painted log, mounted vertically, constructed by the Native Americans of the Northwest Coast of the United States and Canada. There are seven principal kinds of totem poles: memorial poles, grave markers, house posts, portal poles, welcoming poles, mortuary poles, and ridicule poles.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Totem poles are the largest, but not the only, objects that coastal Pacific Northwest natives use to depict spiritual reverence, family legends, sacred beings and culturally important animals, people, or historical events.
Nov 10, 2021 · Six nations in western North America created the original totem poles: Haida; Nuxalt; Kwakwaka'wakw; Tlingit; Tsimshian; Coast Salish; The most common animals to see carved into a totem pole are the eagle, raven, bear, thunderbird, wolf, killer whale, frog, and beaver. Poles were carved using stones, seashells, bones, and beaver teeth.
Nov 27, 2023 · Tribal leaders would order a pole to be carved for six main reasons: Family poles: Carved to display family lineage, the tribal history, and the social standing of the Native American family. Shame poles: Targeted those who failed in some way, whether it was to repay a debt, or because of some unpleasant action on their part.
Totem pole. Totem poles are monumental sculptures carved on poles, posts, or pillars with symbols or figures made from large trees, mostly western red cedar, by indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest coast of North America.
Aug 17, 2012 · Carved mostly from Western Red Cedar trees, totem poles are created by the Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast of North America. Because cedar decomposes quickly, few examples of these massive structures from before 1900 exist today.
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Nov 20, 2012 · The Totem Pole symbolizes guardian spirits or helpers each of the animals, images and symbols have special and specific meanings. For additional information refer to Power Animals. Tribes of Northwest Indians carve and construct the Totem Pole include the Haida, Tlingit, Bella Coola, Tsimshian, Kwakiutl and the West Coast tribe.
