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Telling Tales of Totems Telling Tales of Totems by Howard Osterer otem poles are a friendly twenty metre totem pole welcomes visitors, friends and Scouting mem- TT reminder of a wonderful bers. This proud symbol of our First culture that sends a timeless Nation western coast culture was a gift from the Boy Scouts of British message to all of us who want Columbia. It was carved in 1960 by to know more. Chief Mungo Martin, of the Kwakiutl Tribe and his grandson Henry Hunt. Originating from west coast Can- Most of the carving was done in ada, totem poles are a Canadian icon Victoria, B.C.; upon completion the recognized all over the world. Visitors totem pole was shipped in two pieces to these areas are treated to a host by flatbed railcar to Ottawa. of totem poles that range from short Tragically, the Chief’s son, David, totem poles, frontal totem poles, tow- was swept overboard from a sal- ering welcome poles, and mortuary mon boat in 1959. At 76 years of age, poles. Most of us are accustomed to Mungo Martin carved a memorial seeing the tall freestanding pole. pole single-handedly. It was raised I first encountered a totem pole on May 26, 1960 beside the Big House over forty years ago as a member of in Centennial Park. In 1974 it was the 39th Ottawa Cub pack. Our pack moved to the Comox Band reserve visited the Royal Victoria Museum on Victoria Island, B.C. (currently the Museum of Natural Mungo Martin’s skills can be seen Sciences). I will always remember at many sites across Canada: the being greeted by this totem pole that Douglas border crossing (U.S. entry just never seemed to end. - Blaine, Washington) into Canada, In my travels across Canada, I have Museum of Anthropology, Univer- had the privilege to encounter quite a sity of British Columbia, Maritime few totem poles. Fascinating enough, Museum in Vancouver, and at Thun- many were outside Scouts Canada derbird Park, Victoria, B.C. Chief facilities. If you think about it, it is Martin once held claim to the tallest January,1961) Scouts Canada Archives Lead Photo courtesy of Howard Osterer amazing the number of totem poles pole in the world (38.9 metres at that have traveled such distances to Beacon Hill Park, Victoria, B.C.). find new homes. A little online search The Chief was buried at Alert Bay will list the number of totem poles in 1962. An elaborately carved totem The Scout Leader ( in your province. pole made by his grandchildren, Directly outside my office window Henry and Tony Hunt was erected Photo of at Scouts Canada’s National Office, a near his gravesite in 1970. There it goes! Erection of Chief Mungo Martin’s beautiful totem pole in front Totem at of Scouts Canada’s Camp Samac, National Office, Oshawa, ON. 1961. The Quebec Council has created a series of postcards to promote it’s Scout Shops. This one shows the un- veiling of a totem to commemorate B.-P.’s 100th birthday in 1954. 30 THE LEADER, April 2004 Totem Web Sites Famous Totem Poles: An excellent tour of a selection of Where they’re found totem poles can be found by clicking Alert Bay, Vancouver Island, BC on www.virtualguidebooks.com/The- maticLists/TotemPoles.html. Bella Coola, BC Take a peek at pictures of many Canadian totem poles at http://com Campbell River, munity.webshots.com/album/252978 Vancouver Island, BC 67pBstwBOUsE (Thunderbird Park). Duncan, Vancouver Island, BC Totem Tidbits Queen Charlotte Islands, BC (neat facts for your youth) Museum of Anthropology, o Totem poles are carved from the Vancouver, BC trunk of a single western red ▲ cedar. Before bringing down the Stanley Park, Henry Hunt, Chief Mungo Martin’s grandson, Vancouver, BC tree, the feller would ritually ad- is shown adding the finishing touches to the dress the spirits in prayer. totem pole destined for the national office. Museum of Civilization, o Carvers would be commissioned Gatineau, QC by a Chief, who would tell what crests or figures he would like. The ▲ Visitor’s Information Centre, design would be done in charcoal Here he shows the Cape Breton, NS new totem to Mr. and etched out with knives and Royal Ontario Museum, special tools. Paints would be ap- Jackson Dodds, Toronto, ON plied; pigments were made from Deputy Chief Scout grinding various minerals and and Mr. R.C. Project Totem Pole! mixing powders. Nowadays com- Stevenson. Let your imagination guide you in mercial paints have replaced and making totem poles a part of a future expanded the color palette. meeting. You could…show a photo- F Identify figures and create o The world’s tallest totem pole is graph of a totem pole and ask the six new names. 53 metres high in Alert Bay. youth to identify it. o Totem poles can portray F Experiment with making colors Ask them to identify the purpose figures and crests. out of natural ingredients. and function for totem poles. o Figures are portrayed vertically. F Create your own myths Using construction paper, have o Contrary to popular belief, the and legends. youth construct their own totem “top man on the totem pole” is not based on their lives and beliefs, and necessarily the highest ranking or F Send us your pictures of totem assemble several totem poles. They most important. In most cases this poles outside Scouts Canada facili- could write a paragraph explaining figure represents the clan or lin- ties ([email protected]). their totem. (It may be interesting to eage. The largest figure, generally F Have a “Name the totem pole” connect with another group and trade found at the base of the pole is the contest. totem poles to enhance the idea of the most prominent. F Potlatch celebration: help plan individuality that each totem holds!) o Mystical beings play a special role Help your group enjoy the mystery on many totem poles. this special event. At one time this was a special gathering of the and beauty of this proud symbol of the o Wildlife creatures also play a very Canadian First People’s heritage. important role. Birds are often elders and clans. It was a time to celebrate and unite tribes. The – Howard Osterer is Director of Fund- shown with eyebrows; the raven raising and totem pole enthusiast. Archives has been seen with its beak up word potlatch means “give away”; or down; eagles have a short during which there was food and song, retelling of legends and References downturned beak; a bear can Brown, Steven. Totem Poles. be distinguished by prominent exchanging of gifts. Plan your The Scout Leader Bellerophon Books, 1997. ears and flared nostrils; a wolf has “potlatch” celebration with other Cub packs or Beaver colonies. Cromer, Peggy Reine. Totem Tales Photos: long ears. & Coloring Book. 1995. F Make figure stamps – carve out Kramer, Pat. Altitude Superguide - Add a totem to your program: figures in potatoes, apples… Totem Poles. Altitude Publishing creating your own figures apply sample to stamp pad. Canada Ltd., 1999. and stories F Paper bag totem poles figures. MacDonald, George F. Haida F Visit online museum and Draw out characters, figures, Monumental Art. UBC totem pole sites. fill paper bags with recylclable Press/Vancouver, 1983. F Invite a First Nations repre- material (newspaper) to keep the Reid, Martine J. Ph.D. Myths & sentative to come and speak shape. Build totem pole any size or Legends of the Haida Indians. to your group. height. Bellerophon Books,1998. Stewart, Hilary. Looking At Totem F Develop a unit on our F Egg carton totem poles. Poles. University of Washington First Nations people. F Map of Canada - identify where Press, 1993. F Research totem songs, totem poles are located. Don’t for- Totem Poles- to cut out & put arts and crafts. get to identify local poles! together. Bellerophon Books, 1997. THE LEADER, April 2004 31.
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