Victoria, British Columbia
The Northwest Coast is home to several groups of Native Americans,
famous
for their works of art, particularly their tall totem poles. The
Indians
associated directly with British Columbia are the Kwakiutl, well known
for
their large, complex and flamboyant totem poles.
Cut from a single cedar log, these totem
poles can reach 60 feet in height. A single totem pole may also read
like a book, explaining the
lineage of the family for which the pole was created.
Northwest Coast Indians believed that, in past times, humans and
animals
could communicate, change forms and even intermarry. Because of these
mythic
relationships between humans and animals, Native Americans of the
Northwest
Coast claimed animals as clan ancestors. These animal ancestors
bestowed
certain rights and privileges on the clan, and were proudly carved and
displayed
by the family. Totem poles are classic examples of the display of
crest
or clan ancestors. Each totem pole incorporates one or more
ancestral
figures, often including animals and humans that seem to blend and
transform
one into another, reflecting the original myths of transformation, when
animals
and humans could communicate and change forms with each other.
The totem above (and the detail, right) shows the complexity that is
typical of Kwakiutl
poles. Animals flow down the pole, blending and mingling as they reveal
the stories of the clan's history. One animal transforms into another.
Each animal depicted on the pole refers to a clan ancestor, or a mythic
being
that a clan ancestor had contact with. The projection from the
body
of the pole represents the dorsal fin of a killer whale, and below that
there is a whale's
tail. This tells us that the family displaying this pole was
related
to Killer Whale.
The totem pole at left represents Thunderbird, a mythic figure in
Northwest
Coast mythology that was much loved by the Kwakiutl. Thunderbird
appears
on many poles as a clan ancestor. He was a mighty creature, a
giant
bird that caused thunder with the clap of his wings. Thunderbird was
powerful
enough to capture two killer whales, one in each talon. Myths recall
how a
man was transformed into Thunderbird, giving the man's descendants the
right to display images of this mighty creature. His family displays
this pole, which proudly proclaims the ancestry of its owners, people
who
are the descendants of Thunderbird.
This pole is typical of the extravagant designs of Kwakiutl carves.
Thunderbird's
massive wings move into space, and the pole is richly painted.
Poles
such as this are still made by Native Americans in the Northwest Coast
region,
and are visible in various places around British Columbia and
other
regions of the Northwest Coast.
