Totem pole
A carved cedar pole telling a family's history, made by Pacific Northwest peoples.
Also: house pole, memorial pole
A totem pole is a tall monument carved from a single cedar trunk, with figures of animals, humans and beings from stories that belong to a family or clan. Poles may be raised to honour the dead, to welcome visitors, to mark an event or to record a story. Each figure has a meaning known to the community that owns it, and the carver is a respected artist. Pole raisings are celebrated with a feast, songs and dances, often in the context of a potlatch. Totem poles are not objects of worship, and Native carvers today are leaders in their revival, with new poles standing in villages and cities.
Region: North America