Totems and Totem Poles

Only the Pacific Northwest and some Alaskan

Genetic respect: Tattoos of earth creatures were often ways to remind / warn of the demons. Mixing family blood could anger the great spirit of the tribe images of them were carved upon the poles along with the family tree of good natured branches...

Totem poles do not symbolize 'gods' and they were not worshiped. Totem poles often represent one's crest, animals, a particular clan story, or they were a memorial pole for a deceased person. Totem poles also show social rank and social affiliation.

Totems poles were built in three sections and the position of the figures were significant. The bottom of the totem pole displayed images and symbols of the most prominent and visible position. The top of the totem pole displayed mythical creatures and monsters.

Meaning & Purpose

Totem Carving

Rules & Customs

Photos

Contact

Totem Links

World's Largest Totem Pole is or has been claimed by several towns, read more.

Meaning and purpose of totem poles

The meanings of the designs on totem poles are as varied as the cultures which produce them, though they are all pictography or writing with pictures. Totem poles may recount familiar legends, clan lineages, or notable events. Some poles are erected to celebrate cultural beliefs, but others are intended mostly as artistic presentations. Certain types of totem pole are part of mortuary structures incorporating grave boxes with carved supporting poles, or recessed backs in which grave boxes were placed. Poles are also carved to illustrate stories, to commemorate historic persons, to represent shamanic powers, and to provide objects of public ridicule. "Some of the figures on the poles constitute symbolic reminders of quarrels, murders, debts, and other unpleasant occurrences about which the Indians prefer to remain silent... The most widely known tales, like those of the exploits of Raven and of Kats who married the bear woman, are familiar to almost every native of the area. Carvings which symbolize these tales are sufficiently conventionalized to be readily recognizable even by persons whose lineage did not recount them as their own legendary history."

It symbolizes all the things cole has been through in his isolation and throughout the econflict with peter. and all the animals on the pole are ones that have taught him wisdom.

the beaver symbolizes this- creativity, art, and determination

The Makah built or made totem poles.I'm pretty sure there are more groups that do.

The eye itself is actually very easy to find! It's how you get to be ABLE to get it that's hard... You see, to get the material required to make the eye, (yes, you have to create it yourself) you have to finish restoring the mausoleum. I, in a way, cheated a little to be able to finish the mausoleum faster. More specifically, at practically the beginning of the game!

What I did was, at the VERY beginning, chose two villagers that both liked running, and made them builders. That way, they'll keep up with the heathen builders working against them, and the rest of the village can still do their work, too. At the beginning, the only heathens trying to bury the mausoleum are blue masks, which DON'T SCARE AWAY YOUR VILLAGERS. So this way, you don't even have to tear down the blocking totem! Oh, and near the end of restoring the mausoleum, the heathen master builder (you know, the one that's all depressed and stuff?) will try and help bury the mausoleum, too. This is normal. It happened to me, too, but once you finish, he'll go back to his post.

When you finish restoring the mausoleum, (don't worry, the heathens won't try and bury it again) there will be a small bowl of water near the enterance. Drop one of your villagers on it, and they will take it to the river near the broken pot. Then drop them on the pot again, and they will try and goldpan in the river. I say "try" because they won't always succeed. Once they finish goldpanning three times. 3 times. 3THREE3!! (DO YOU HEAR ME!? IT HAS TO BE THREE!!) Drop another one of your villagers on the pot that is now filled with gold, (and now what that annoying broken pot was ever there for!) and they will take it over to the fire to smelt it. (Did I mention the fire has to be lit?)

After a little waiting, the lump of gold will then be a round lump of gold. Then, just drop one of your villagers on the round, gold ball and they will take it over to the blind totem and the eye will then be automatically installed and you will finally... actually, it's probably better I don't give you any spoilers. Happy smelting, whoever you are!

It depends on the particular culture you come from. Possibilities are: # You inherit it by descent. So ask your parents or someone who would know your lineage. # You engage in the rite of passage ritual - depending on tribe it is a matter of prolonged isolation and fasting until you have the experience of having your totem animal approach you in vision. # Simply decide for yourself which creature/culture you wish to follow and adopt that totem as your own - however it is hoped that you would approach this with a little more serious thought and conviction than what you would with deciding on a new tattoo.

tough

These poles are more correctly known as "story poles" and were personal to the carver and their family. The creatures represented related to the life of the carver and his beliefs.

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While totem poles do tell stories, they also represent a clan's crest, social rank, and affiliation. Totem poles were also carved to memorialize a deceased person. Animals carved on totem poles may represent the carver's crest, clan, or figures in a clan's story. It is not only animals or mythical creatures carved on totem poles, sometimes people and other objects are carved on them also. Depending on the story, it often does not personally belong to the carver, but rather to the clan he belongs to. If anything the totem poles were personal to the carver and his clan as opposed to just the carver and his family.

YES

A totem pole represents the animals of the tribe unless I am mistaken.

For the native Americans to dance around and also a place to tell stories and to learn about their ancestry.

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The carvings on some totem poles told stories or the Indians put them out to scare off their enemies.

stamina,mobility,the land,travel,power,freedom

Some of them do, depending on what legend they are based on. If the legend is about a bird, then the totem pole could have wins on it.

Well its slow but it works. if you put the bee power near the Heathens that are bathing, they will run and hide under the water. you will have a couple of seconds to dismantle the rainbow totem.

Depending on where the totem pole was made, or what culture it came from, totem poles where made from diffrent materials. Indians where most commonly known for wooden totem poles, but mayans totem poles where made from stones, like limestone.

wedged talil eagle

The Anishinabe (Ojibwe) people did not carve Totem as totem poles are most well know.

Artists did beadwork, birchbark boxes and baskets and dreamcatchers. The clan (totemic system) was used however. Of the original 5 clans there are now more than 21, represented by various symbolic animals such as Wolf, deer, whitefish,loon and bear to name a few.

Totem poles were only found in the Pacific Northwest. They are important to those tribes but not necessarily to any other ones. The Totem pole was carved as a history of the family who carved it or of the family to hired the carver to make them.

None of the north-eastern tribes made totem poles - they are a feature of tribes of the north-west coast.

Yes, and only Northwetern Native American Tribes used or had Totem Poles.