Totem Poles

During our trip through Alaska and British Columbia, we have seen many totem poles and other first nations art. Adolfo and I love to stop and admire these wonderful works. So, here are some of my photos.

The totem is the “Coat of Arms” for the first nations people of the north west. Totem poles are carved from and painted with bold colors. Each carving tells a story, some true, some mythical. Many provide information about the carver's identity or a clan's identity.

(First Photo: Gitanyow, British Columbia; Second Photo: Alaska Indian Arts, Haines, Alaska)


Each carving has a meaning and serves a purpose:


Crest poles give ancestral information about families.

(Gitanyow, British Columbia)

History poles tell a clan's history.

(Port Chilkoot, Haines, Alaska)

Legend poles tell stories of legend or folklore.

(Gitanyow, British Columbia)

Memorial poles commemorate individuals.

(Gitanyow, British Columbia)

Animals on the totem poles represent aspects of nature:



The eagle is reign of the air.

(Tlingit Heritage Centre, Teslin, Yukon)

The whale is lord of the sea.

(Haines Fire Department, Haines, Alaska)

The wolf is the genius of the land.

(Alaska Native Arts, Haines, Alaska)

(Tlingit Heritage Centre, Teslin, Yukon)




The frog is the liaison between land and sea.

(Alaska Indian Arts, Haines, Alaska)