What is a Totem Pole?
The Native people of the Northwest Washington, Canada, Coastal British Columbia and Alaska are referred to as the First Nations. It is these people who first raised monuments commonly referred to as totem poles to honor their ancestry, the history of their people, important events and respected people. Totem poles were only made by those of the First Nations. Most were carved out of a piece of wood, from giant cedar or western red cedar tree.
Totems were built near homes of individual clans and usually faced a water way as water was the main means of travel. By the carvings, those that knew what the totems stood for would be able to look at a totem and know which family/clan lived in each area. Some totems used brightly colored paint while others used little if any paint. The colors and animals on each pole reflected the history of that family. Totem poles were built to tell a story. Insect designs are varied on totems and are difficult to identify as they are often carved in a similiar design as birds are. Tribes assign different meanings to the designs on totems and to what they mean.
There are several uses for totem poles. House Frontal Poles were often found at the doorways to homes.
Mortuary Poles were carved as a way to honor an important person. Shame Poles were rarely used however were used to ridicule people when they did not keep their word or owed a debt, to show protest.