Totem Poles​—Their Meaning

Family or clan crests, using natural or mythical creatures as symbols, were proud possessions for personal identification. The Eagle clan’s crests included stylistically carved or painted eagles, cormorants, beavers, and dogfish, whereas the Raven clan’s crests included mountain goats, killer whales, grizzly bears, and rainbows. These crests were not merely decorative but depicted the family’s lineage, wealth, and status, as well as the privileges, songs, and stories of the clan.

While the carved poles were not idolized, some of the crest figures had mythical or spiritual significance, depicting supernatural ancestors with magical powers to transform themselves into animals and back again. For a period of less than a hundred years, from about 1840, carving and erecting of poles gained great popularity. Now these large cedar poles, bleached and buffed by the weather to a silver-​gray, are slowly decaying and falling. Some of the poles were 60 feet [18 m] high and 5 feet [1.5 m] wide.

Far right: Totem poles of Ninstints Village, Anthony Island