Totem Poles

TOTEM POLES are the most visible example of the rich woodcarving tradition among coastal FIRST NATIONS in BC. Traditionally totem poles served as "documents" in an oral culture, proclaiming cultural identity and displaying a family's history and status. Northwest Coast peoples produced several types of totem poles, including welcome figures, traditionally carved by NUU-CHAH-NULTH (Nootka); interior houseposts, by Nuu-chah-nulth and KWAKWAKA'WAKW (Kwakiutl); doorway poles, mostly by HAIDA but...

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