36 | Viking Explorer Society News
One of the most recognisable cultural
objects of the region, the vast array of
different designs and styles reflects the rich
cultural and ecological diversity within the
Pacific Northwest.
Historians and anthropologists estimate that
totem pole carving, as we know it,
developed over the last 200 years, reaching
its peak in the 19th century. During this
period in history, many First Nations
communities had gained access to superior
tools and techniques through trading fish
and fur with Europeans. Despite using
rot-resistant cedar, most large totem poles
only survive outside for approximately 100
years before they start to deteriorate.
Many trees are viewed and closely inspected
before the optimum tree is chosen and then
harvested. A ceremony is often performed to
honour the tree before it is felled, as a mark
of respect and gratitude. The artists
responsible for carving the tree use both
traditional and modern tools to create the
distinctive curves and markings, paying
particular attention to the grain of the wood
and any special features of the tree.
Today, many totem poles which were sold or
taken from First Nations communities have
been repatriated as part of an ongoing effort
to maintain and promote indigenous culture.
As new generations of carvers hone their
remarkable skills, the tradition of carving and
erecting totem poles continues, and there is
no better place to go to appreciate these
wonderful works of art.
Clockwise, from
far left: A totem
pole at Ketchikan
includes a range of
different symbols
and markings;
the totem pole at
Kake is thought
to be the tallest in
the world; eagles
are symbolic and
often portrayed on
totem poles.
FACTS AND
FIGURES
• Alaskan totem poles are
carved from cedar trees, which
are resistant to rot and grow in
the rainforests of Southeast
Alaska.
• Standing at 40 meters tall,
one of the tallest totem poles
in the world is in Kake, Alaska.
• Paint was traditionally made
from a mix of chewed cedar
bark and salmon eggs, along
with powdered pigments, in
order to create an oil-based
paint. Today, synthetic paints
are often used, but some
carvers still use natural
pigments derived from
charcoal and ochre.
• Early European explorers
mistakenly believed totem
poles to be objects of worship.
• The Tlingit totem pole artist,
Nathan Jackson, has carved
nearly 50 totem poles over the
last 45 years.
Pa c i c
O cean
Valdez
Skagway
H u b b ard G la c i e r
Yak u t a t B ay
Icy Strait Point
Juneau
Ketchikan
Sitka
I n s i d e Pas s a g e
Vancouver
Seward
CANADA
BRITISH COLUMBIA
USA
ALASKA
–
C r ui s e
••
O ve r night in Po r t
VIEW
VOYAGE
GETTING THERE: An 11-day Alaska &
the Inside Passage voyage.
