Search results

Title: Detail: New Generation of Great-Protruding-(Being)-from-the-Lake
Description: This is the row of Three-Beings-Across, which were carved separately and attached to the pole. Note the Three-Beings-Across are sitting on the Hanging-Frogs.
Date: ca.1966, 1965; 1966; 1967; 1968; 1969; 1970

Title: Detail: Snag-of-the-Sand-Bar pole
Description: Raised by Chief Weget. This detail shows the fourth Thunderbird at the base of the pole, which is standing on the head of the monster of the lake.
Date: 1926, 1926

Title: Ladder-in-Steps pole
Description: Raised by Chief Weget. The top portion of the pole is decorated with the Wood-of-Hemlock or Rafters-of-the-House, which symbolizes the mountain of Wusen-skeehl. Below this is a Split-Person, then the Weneel or Long-Nosed bird (who is the monster of the lake), and then three humans holding groundhogs. At the bottom is a notched ladder.
Date: ca.1924, 1920; 1921; 1922; 1923; 1924; 1925

Title: Pole-of-the-Mountain-Goat
Description: Raised in 1945 by Chief Gwaxsan, it is inscribed: In memory of Chief Cookson. Died Nov. 15, 1939.

This photo details the Mountain Goat, followed by the Sun, which is surrounded by People-of-the-Sun, and two Whole-Owls at the bottom.
Date: 1972, 1972

Title: Totem Poles of Gitsegukla
Description: Looking upriver from the centre of the lower village. The background is the bank on the opposite side of the Skeena River.

Behind the house is the Snag-of-the-Sand-Bar pole. The plain pole is likely a Single-Fireweed pole, with what appears to be a weather vane at the top.

The Great-Protruding-(Being)-from-the-Lake, Pole of Wawgaalaw', and Raven
Show moreLooking upriver from the centre of the lower village. The background is the bank on the opposite side of the Skeena River.

Behind the house is the Snag-of-the-Sand-Bar pole. The plain pole is likely a Single-Fireweed pole, with what appears to be a weather vane at the top.

The Great-Protruding-(Being)-from-the-Lake, Pole of Wawgaalaw', and Raven-War-Club are grouped in the centre of the photo with the Whole-Person or All-Men pole to the far right.
Show less
Date: 1923, 1923

Title: Pole-in-Sand
Description: Raised by Chief Wiseks (Stephen Morgan) of the Fireweed phratry (Gisgahst) at the 1945 potlatch. The pole represents the great sandbar at the mouth of the Skeena River. It was a supernatural (Spanaxnox) that protected the Gitxsan from Tlingit and Haida raiders.

The Stone Bear memorial in the foreground is In memory of Chief Mark We-get". The bear
Show moreRaised by Chief Wiseks (Stephen Morgan) of the Fireweed phratry (Gisgahst) at the 1945 potlatch. The pole represents the great sandbar at the mouth of the Skeena River. It was a supernatural (Spanaxnox) that protected the Gitxsan from Tlingit and Haida raiders.

The Stone Bear memorial in the foreground is In memory of Chief Mark We-get". The bear originally had a small branch attached to its back."
Show less
Date: 1972, 1972

Title: Hat-of-Tsagyem-hanak pole
Description: Raised by Chief Skogum Laxhe, this pole was brought to the upper village following the flood of 1936, and would eventually be brought to the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Ottawa. A replica pole was made to replace it in the upper village.
Date: 1923, 1923

Title: Whole-Person or All-Men pole
Description: This pole was raised by Chief Wiistis and has also been called Empty-Canoe or Just-Bark.

Perched at the top is the Eagle, followed by the Empty-Canoe, which has rafters inside. At each end of the rafters are carved human faces or heads. Next is a second Eagle, and at the bottom, the Whole-Person.
Date: 1923, 1923

Title: Detail: House-Front-Blackfish
Description: This image shows the face of the Blackfish, as well as the mythic person Gunarhnaesems, who is attached to the dorsal fin.
Date: 1923, 1923

Title: Detail: Rotten-Corpse pole
Description: This photograph shows one of the faces from the two rows of Many-Skulls. Note that the eyes appear to be closed in death.
Date: ca. 1967, 1966; 1967; 1968

Title: Gitsegukla Village
Description: A view of Gitsegukla from the opposite side of the Skeena River. Following the flood of 1914, people began to relocate from the lower village to the upper or modern location of the village.
Date: 1926, 1926

Title: Gitsegukla Village
Description: A view of the lower village of Gitsegukla from the Skeena River.

This photo was taken prior to 1913 as the Owl pole has not been erected yet.
Date: ca.1910, 1900; 1901; 1902; 1903; 1904; 1905; 1906; 1907; 1908; 1909; 1910

Title: Gitsegukla Poles
Description: From left to right: Pole of Wawgaalaw', the Great-Protruding-(Being)-from-the-Lake, and the Snag-of-the-Sand-Bar.

The trail to the upper village follows the slope of the hill in the background.
Date: ca. 1915, 1915; 1916; 1917; 1918; 1919; 1920

Title: Hanging-Frogs
Description: From the Pole of Wawgaalaw'. This details the three small Hanging-Frogs in a row, which are found above the Eagle at the bottom of the pole.
Date: ca.1967, 1966; 1967; 1968

Title: Detail: Snag-of-the-Sand-Bar pole
Description: Raised by Chief Skogum Laxhe.

This details the lower section of the pole. The mask was attached to the pole to honour a deceased Chief. The three figures at the bottom are the Winged-Person, followed by the Moth, and at the very bottom is the monster who lives under the water and causes the Sand-Bar to raise with his back.
Date: 1910, 1910

Title: Gitsegukla Village in Winter
Description: View of Gitsegukla from across Skeena River.

Following the flood of 1936, the buildings were moved to the upper village, and only a few totem poles remain on the lower village site.
Date: ca.1938, 1935; 1936; 1937; 1938; 1939; 1940

Title: Gitsegukla Poles
Description: From the left to the right: Raven-War-Club, the Pole-of-Wawgaalaw', and then the Great-Protruding-(Being)-from-the-Lake.
Date: ca. 1924, 1920; 1921; 1922; 1923; 1924; 1925

Title: Detail: Ladder-in-Steps pole
Description: This portion of the pole details the Weneel or Long-Nosed bird and the three humans holding groundhogs.
Date: ca.1924, 1920; 1921; 1922; 1923; 1924; 1925; 1926

Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World