You are here
George and Joanne MacDonald Northwest Coast Image Archive
Pages
-
-
Totem Park
-
Poles and monuments at Hydaburg Totem Park. Hydaburg was established in 1911 by Haida people from three villages. In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) created Hydaburg Park, and several other similar parks in Southeast Alaska. CCC workers brought poles to these parks from other locations. The government then hired local Haida workers to restore these totems. When restoration was not possible, replicas were carved. Twenty-one poles were brought to Hydaburg, five of which were able to be restored. The remaining 16 were replicated between 1939 and 1942. One carved stone figure was also moved to the park. Master carver John Wallace led the Haida carvers in their work in the 1930s, even though Wallace was in his eighties.
-
-
Top of Klawock Totem
-
The original totem poles from Klawock were carved many years ago at a site on nearby Tuxecan Island where a large Tlingit settlement once existed. Later, around the 1930s, copies of those totems were re-carved by unemployed master boat builders in Klawock through the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), a public work relief program.
-
-
Healing Ceremony
-
Shaman wearing a grizzly bear claw crown performing a healing ritual.
-
-
Russian Czar Pole
-
The original version of this pole stood at Howkan village, Alaska. It stood in front of Chief Skowl's house and has a naturalistic American eagle on the top, flanked by two traditional watchmen. Below that is a figure of the Czar of Russia with flowing locks and a beard. He wears a coat with epaulets and stands between the ears of the Thunderbird that sports an incredible display of plumage on its head, wings, breast, tail and even its feet. At the base, a standing Bear holds an insect in its mouth. Hydaburg was established in 1911 by Haida people from three villages. In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) created Hydaburg Park, and several other similar parks in Southeast Alaska. CCC workers brought poles to these parks from other locations. The government then hired local Haida workers to restore these totems. When restoration was not possible, replicas were carved. Twenty-one poles were brought to Hydaburg, five of which were able to be restored. The remaining 16 were replicated between 1939 and 1942. One carved stone figure was also moved to the park. Master carver John Wallace led the Haida carvers in their work in the 1930s, even though Wallace was in his eighties.
-
-
Row of Poles at Totem Park
-
Looking down a row of totem poles. Hydaburg was established in 1911 by Haida people from three villages. In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) created Hydaburg Park, and several other similar parks in Southeast Alaska. CCC workers brought poles to these parks from other locations. The government then hired local Haida workers to restore these totems. When restoration was not possible, replicas were carved. Twenty-one poles were brought to Hydaburg, five of which were able to be restored. The remaining 16 were replicated between 1939 and 1942. One carved stone figure was also moved to the park. Master carver John Wallace led the Haida carvers in their work in the 1930s, even though Wallace was in his eighties.
-
-
Watchmen and Figure with Frog in Mouth
-
Top of pole with watchmen and a animal with a frog in its mouth. Hydaburg was established in 1911 by Haida people from three villages. In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) created Hydaburg Park, and several other similar parks in Southeast Alaska. CCC workers brought poles to these parks from other locations. The government then hired local Haida workers to restore these totems. When restoration was not possible, replicas were carved. Twenty-one poles were brought to Hydaburg, five of which were able to be restored. The remaining 16 were replicated between 1939 and 1942. One carved stone figure was also moved to the park. Master carver John Wallace led the Haida carvers in their work in the 1930s, even though Wallace was in his eighties.
-
-
Totem Park
-
The original totem poles were carved many years ago at a site on nearby Tuxekan Island where a large Tlingit settlement once existed. Later, around the 1930s, copies of those totems were re-carved by unemployed master boat builders in Klawock through the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), a public work relief program.
-
-
Human and Whales
-
Human figure holding the dorsal fins of two killer whales or blackfish. The figure also has a whale on his head.
-
-
Face Detail
-
Detail of a human figure from an unknown totem pole. Likely at an Alaskan museum.
-
-
Fallen Pole at Stanley Park
-
Old totem at Stanley Park.
In the early 1920s, the construction of an Indian village was proposed for the area near Lumberman�s Arch in Stanley Park. The site was chosen because it was located on a massive shell midden, or cultural mound that was the result of many years of Coast Salish habitation. This large deposit of calcified shells covered an area 8 feet deep and spanning several acres.
The original poles were all from the Alert Bay area, but others were purchased from the islands of Haida Gwaii and from Rivers Inlet on the Central Coast. In the early 1960s, the poles were moved to their present location, east of Brockton Oval. All of the original poles have since been moved to museums for preservation and new ones commissioned.
-
-
Killer Whale
-
Blackfish monument at New Kasaan, Prince of Wales Island, Alaska.
-
-
Reid Totem Detail
-
Detail of a Bill Reid pole at the Haida Village at the Museum of Anthropology. At the centre of the complex are two Haida houses and six poles created between 1960 and 1962 by the late Haida artist Bill Reid and 'Namgis artist Doug Cranmer. The two cedar-plank houses are of great historical significance, and were likely the first traditional-style Haida dwellings to be built in the 20th century. 66-8-
-
-
Detail of Post Body
-
There appears to be two sets of similar house posts. One set is referred to as ""Sitka Bear Post"", while the other is referred to as ""Mother Eagle house post"". The posts are located at the Sitka Natural History Museum, Alaska.
-
-
Bear with Whale
-
Blackfish and Brown Bear pole. The original totem poles were carved many years ago at a site on nearby Tuxekan Island where a large Tlingit settlement once existed. Later, around the 1930s, copies of those totems were re-carved by unemployed master boat builders in Klawock through the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), a public work relief program.
-
-
House and Poles
-
Totem poles and house at Totem Bight near Ketchikan Alaska. The totems at Totem Bight were either salvaged or replicated from older poles that had decayed or become overgrown at their original locations in Alaskan Native villages. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) created the park at Totem Bight, and several other similar parks in Southeast Alaska. CCC workers brought poles to these parks from other locations. The government then hired local workers to restore the totems. When restoration was not possible, replicas were carved.
-
-
Totem Tops
-
Totem poles at Totem Bight near Ketchikan Alaska. The totems at Totem Bight were either salvaged or replicated from older poles that had decayed or become overgrown at their original locations in Alaskan Native villages. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) created the park at Totem Bight, and several other similar parks in Southeast Alaska. CCC workers brought poles to these parks from other locations. The government then hired local workers to restore the totems. When restoration was not possible, replicas were carved.
-
-
Totems
-
Totem poles at Totem Bight near Ketchikan Alaska. The totems at Totem Bight were either salvaged or replicated from older poles that had decayed or become overgrown at their original locations in Alaskan Native villages. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) created the park at Totem Bight, and several other similar parks in Southeast Alaska. CCC workers brought poles to these parks from other locations. The government then hired local workers to restore the totems. When restoration was not possible, replicas were carved.
-
-
Shamanic Ceremony
-
Shaman wearing a grizzly bear claw crown performing a healing ritual.
Pages