Totem Poles Research Paper

Words: 299
Pages: 2

Totem poles are more than just carvings, they are vibrant symbols of cultural significance for First Nations people in the Pacific Northwest. Engraved on these totem poles are images of animals depicting creatures from family crests. Gadacz Animals are a vital part of Indigenous culture and different families have connections to different animals. An example by Alice Huang states that “some Kwakwaka’wakw families of Northern Vancouver Island belonging to the Thunderbird clan will feature a Thunderbird crest and familial legends on their poles.” (Huang) There are a number of crests that correspond to different animals, some including, the wolf, eagle and the grizzly bear. Totem poles aren’t limited to a single animal, when representing familial