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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
3 days ago · A totem pole is a tall, vertical wooden carving created by Indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest, particularly the Haida, Tlingit, and Tsimshian tribes. These poles are usually carved from cedar trees, which are both abundant and resistant to rot. The carvings on totem poles often depict animals, mythical creatures, and important figures ...
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.
Totem poles are sculptures carved from large trees, such as the Western Red Cedar. In North America, totem poles are part of the cultures of many indigenous peoples of Alaska, British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest.
May 21, 2021 · The use of animals in totem poles is not only traditional, but it is also highly important. The animals chosen to be in a specific totem pole carry great significance and demonstrate each culture’s interpretation of the spiritual meaning of the wildlife around them.
For many years in the history of British Columbia, the presence of totem poles in the province came under threat by non-Aboriginal settlers who predominantly viewed the poles as paganistic, and an impediment to colonial efforts to Christianize and “civilize” First Nations people.
Animal totem poles stand as powerful symbols of cultural identity, spiritual wisdom, and artistic expression for indigenous communities around the world. These iconic structures not only preserve ancestral stories and traditions but also serve as beacons of resilience and creativity.
