What do totem poles represent?

What do totem poles represent?

Totem poles are monuments created by First Nations of the Pacific Northwest to represent and commemorate ancestry, histories, people, or events. Totem poles are typically created out of red cedar, a malleable wood relatively abundant in the Pacific Northwest, and would be erected to be visible within a community.

Are totem poles self explanatory?

Totems are most often made of Redwood Cedar trees. in order to tell the story, you need to KNOW the story or people. Poles are seldom self-explanatory. Parents tell their children the story in order to pass it down for generations to come.

How does Worshipping a totem pole unite?

Children are given an opportunity to decide during their initiation whether they will respect the paternal or maternal totem. Each group of relatives has a holy place to which the totem animal brings the souls of the dead and from which the souls of children are also believed to come.

What are facts about totem poles?

13 totally terrific totem pole facts A record of events. Some totem poles are a recording of important events that happened in the past. Totem pole meanings. But there are different kinds of totem poles that have other meanings. Origin of the word. Totem pole colours. They’re really tall! Special wood. Totem pole creators Totem pole animals. Carving tools. Carving styles.

What are some facts about totem poles?

Totem Pole Facts. Totem Pole. Some towering nearly forty feet high (12 meters) Native American Indian totem poles, carved from the trunks of massive trees, are a stunning example of Native American Indian art.

What are the types of totem poles?

There are six basic types of totem poles: house frontal poles, interior house posts, mortuary poles, memorial poles, welcome poles, and the ridicule or shame pole.

What is a totem pole symbol?

A totem pole depicts emblems of animals and mythological creatures that are believed to have spiritual significance and who watch over the families, clans, or tribes who adhere to the belief of Totemism. The Totem Pole symbolizes guardian spirits or helpers each of the animals, images and symbols have special and specific meanings.