Model Totem Pole

Item number Nb11.239 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

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Description

Model totem pole with four figures, all mounted on a rectangular wooden base. Figures from bottom up: wolf, human holding fish-like animal, bird. Bottom figure is torso only, with head of wolf; large teeth, long snout, erect ears. Clothed human figure with facial paint on cheeks and painted moustache; has deep prismatic face with pronounced brow ridge; man's feet rest on wolf's head, almost forming ears; fish in his hands extends down to feet. Bird figure above has folded wings and ears. Back of pole is flat. Fragment of newspaper clipping about totem poles is glued on reverse.

Cultural Context

made for sale

Narrative

Identified by Joe David (1976) as a turn-of the century Nuu-chah-nulth pole made for sale to tourists. Although these are not traditional in themselves, many traditional figures are used.

Iconographic Meaning

Wolves, killer whales and thunderbirds are all important in traditional Nuu-chah-nulth mythology. Wolves were believed to possess supernatural powers, they had a special relationship with killer whales. The "fish" on the pole is probably a killer whale. They are believed to emerge from the sea and turn into wolves. The bird on the pole probably represents a thunderbird; a powerful being, associated with whaling.