STORY POLES

                          No Longer Totem Poles

     Spanish explorers thought North American Native Peoples, who they called Indians, worshiped their poles and called them totems, which in Spanish means idol. Of course none of that was true. Totems tell a story and often record family history, so today story poles is the correct terminology.

     In Canada the term First Nation’s Peoples has replaced the use of Indian, aborigine, and indigenous, all words used in the past to describe the nation’s first inhabitants.

     Story poles are more common in some places than others, as the custom of carving was common among certain tribes or bands of people. The giant red cedar tree is the most common tree used for carving a story pole, so proximity to them was a big factor influencing the craft/tradition. The tree with the stringy bark can grow 200-feet tall.

     Story poles depict the relationship between man, animals, celestial bodies, plants, and landscapes and how they intermingle and change. A person, clan, band, or trib differs from another the same way a dog differs from a cat.

     To say, “I am a Raven” means I am from the Raven clan/band.  The Raven ranks high on the story pole as he oversees man and the creatures below. He also is the guardian of the carver.

The Raven’s strong beak is feared by both man and other creatures.

     The Eagle is the symbol of the Haida tribe, and his flight honors the past while soaring into the future. He is the strongest of all creatures because he has the largest wings, sharpest eyes, controls the sky and can cause storms, thunder and lightning.  Sometimes he is called the thunder bird.

     This is no more than an awareness and introduction to story poles. It’s a fascinating subject. There is a large story pole in a square in Seattle, Washington. Stanley Park in Vancouver, British Columbia has numerous poles. I happened to be at the Capilano swinging bridge complex when a carver was in residence. The friendly fellow was most generous with his time answering questions and educating my friend and me.  Story poles are often seen in the western U S and Canada.

     I bought a book somewhere in my travels so I’ll go more in depth on the subject another day.