Totem Poles

Magnificent and memorable, TOTEM poles are a distinctive landmark of the Pacific Northwest coast and illustrate cultural stories as well as important family crest figures. These silent messengers function symbolically to communicate a strong oral and visual language that bridges all coastal nations – from southern Coast Salish and Kwakwaka’wakw to the most northern Haida and Tsimshian.

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  • Haida Eagle, Raven & Bear Pole

    Geoff Greene

    CA$14,500.00

    Glass, etched and sandblasted

    Exclusive to Coastal Peoples Fine Arts Gallery

    The interplay between tradition and innovation is the premise for this contemporary totem pole.  While cedar wood predominates, noted Haida artist Geoff Greene has applied his foresight in designing traditional Haida motifs in the contemporary glass medium.  It makes a strong visual statement with its structured Haida form line, yet the translucent nature of the glass softens the composition, clearly defining the progression of Haida art.  The Eagle is portrayed perched from the top, with the Raven and Moon following. The Eagle signifies peace and friendship, while the Raven is the folk hero who created the Moon, stars and the universe. At the base of the totem, the Bear is a close relative to mankind known to share both human and animal traits.

  • Eagles Totem Pole

    Garner Moody

    Price upon request

    Red Cedar wood, Acrylic paint

    For inquiries on totem pole commissions, please click here.

    Currently on display at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel

  • Watchman, Eagle, & Bear Totem Pole

    Garner Moody

    Price upon request

    Red Cedar wood, Acrylic paint

    For inquiries on totem pole commissions, please click here.

  • Qoluun (Beaver) Totem Pole

    Lyle Wilson

    Price upon request

    Yellow Cedar wood, Acrylic paint

    120 x 10.75 x 8″
    122 x 15 x 20″ (including base)

    This GLA-GLA-QWIL-SALA (totem pole) is a story of the GEE-GA-JOAUCH (Beaver Clan) coming to the HAISLA. The journey began in a Tlingit village called CLOONTHK — in the state now known as Alaska in the U.S.A. JUH-JEE-NEE was the HEY-MAS (chief) of his Tlingit Beaver Clan and his linage went back for generations. The name JUH-JEE-NEE means ‘Eagle”s Claws’ in the Tlingit language and the name was given to him by his father’s Tlingit Eagle Clan. JUH-JEE-NEE ’s family consisted of 10 brothers and sisters and when their WEE-WAY-ALTHLA (parents) died, the whole family was so consumed with grief they decided to leave their ancestral village.

    Shortly after their WEE-WAY-ALTHLA’s funerals, the family paddled their GELWA (canoes) southwards seeking a new land and life. They were in no hurry — camping in bays and exploring different places. They lived off the land, often digging for JEE-QWA (clams) and JA-WA-LEE (cockles). When the tide was out, JUH-JEE-NEE’s MA-NES-OOT (brother), STA-OWSK was wading in the shallow water of a bay and saw a TAGWAH (octopus) swim into a hole beneath a large boulder. He reached into the hole to try and grab the TAGWAH and his hand was trapped by a giant scallop — a large clam-like creature.  STA-OWSK’s hand was trapped so securely that neither he, nor his family, could free it.

    When the tide came up poor STA-OWSK drowned — adding more grief to the band of Tlingit wanderers. After the tide went down, JUH-JEE-NEE cut off STA-OWSK’s arm and cremated his body. STA-OWSK’s ashes were put into a small GUH-YO-JEELTH (bentwood box).

    JUH-JEE-NEE and his family continued their journey southwards; eventually arriving at the entrance of the Nass River — where the village of Gingolx (formally, Kincolith) is now situated. Welcomed, they stayed for awhile, enjoying the hospitality of the Gingolx people. GUDHAYKS, another of JUH-JEE-NEE’’s MA-NES-OOT, married a woman there — the Stuart family of Gingolx are the descendants of GUDHAYKS.

    JUH-JEE-NEE’s group then continued their journey and ended up at a site now known as the home of Ts’msyen band of Lax Kw’alaams — although their stay was relatively short, they were welcomed. INSIPDEEGS, JUH-JEE-NEE’’s WA-GWAH (sister), married a Lax Kw’alaams man — their descendants are the Dudoward family.

    Continuing their journey, eventually they came to the mouth of the Skeena River. Paddling further up the Skeena they met the Kitselas people — or as they call themselves today: Gitselasu: People of the Canyon. Again welcomed, they stayed long enough for another of JUH-JEE-NEE’’s WA-GWAH — JINJANSH — to marry a Gitselasu man.

    At Kitselas, JUH-JEE-NEE captured a little JUM-MEE-NAS (squirrel); which became his pet. JUH-JEE-NEE kept the JUM-MEE-NAS on a string and it preceded him while he walked around. The Gitselasu told him of a place where fresh-water GWAAS (mussels) could be found. JUH-JEE-NEE’s party decided to seek out this place and the JUM-MEE-NAS seemed to know the way, and led them to what is now called Lakelse Lake — where they camped on a beach there.

    The GA-GAY-JWILS (day) was sunny and warm as they dug for GWAAS and JUH-JEE-NEE remembered the drowning of STA-OWSK. He took the GUH-YO-JEELTH, containing STA-OWSK’s ashes, and put it on a log. JUH-JEE-NEE and his family, then mourned for their MA-NES-OOT.

    As they mourned, it seemed as if the world mourned with them: the GA-GAY-JWILS (day) became GA-NULTH (night) as the GIZUA (sun) went into an eclipse. As the eclipse ended and daylight gradually returned, for no reason the GUH-YO-JEELTH, containing STA-OWSK’s ashes fell off the log — scattering them on the beach.

    As JUH-JEE-NEE’s family watched the eclipse end, more strange and supernatural events were witnessed: a giant QOLUUN (beaver) known as a KWUTH-HECK swam amidst a large patch of foam on the lake’s surface; a large MOO-MOO-GA-JOO (halibut) appeared (normally a saltwater fish) in the fresh-water lake; and a KWA-KWALK — a large man-like being holding a GWULS-GEAUCH-GAW (otter).

    When everything finally disappeared, JUH-JEE-NEE’s party left the lake, and the JUM-MEE-NAS led them overland and southwards, until they got to the upper reaches of the GICH-LAA-LEES-LA (Kitimat River). They followed GICH-LAA-LEES-LA downstream until encountering a HAISLA at their village — located near the mouth of GICH-LAA-LEES-LA.

    The HAISLA welcomed JUH-JEE-NEE’’s party. After telling the story of their adventures, JUH-JEE-NEE and his family were invited to join the HAISLA people. When JUH-JEE-NEE accepted the invitation, the HULL-CHEY-CHU-NOAUCH (Killer Whale Clan) gave JUH-JEE-NEE’s family a full-size GYUU-AUCH (bighouse) in order to make them feel truly welcome.

    JUH-JEE-NEE’’s family settled into the HAISLA community — intermarrying with the HAISLA. JUH-JEE-NEE’’s leadership skills eventually led him to become the head HEY-MAS (chief) of the HAISLA. JUH-JEE-NEE kept his “original” Tlingit name and adopted the things they witnessed during their journey to use as family names and crests.

    Down though the centuries the original Tlingit name of JUH-JEE-NEE has become JASEE in the language of the HAISLA. Undoubtedly the two vastly different languages of the Tlingit and HAISLA played a role in the changes — but it still means ‘Eagle’s Claws’.

    When JASEE himself, commissioned a GLA-GLA-QWIL-SALA for the GEE-GA-JOAUCH, these crest-figures were carved on it: 2 QOLUUN at the bottom; KWA-KWALK holding a GWULS-GEAUCH-GAW; MOO-MOO-GA-JOO; GIZUA. The JUM-MEE-NAS was honoured by placing it on the very top, because it was the JUM-MEE-NAS that led JUH-JEE-NEE’’s family to their new home with the HAISLA.

    In addition, for my contemporary version of the GEE-GA-JOAUCH GLA-GLA-QWIL-SALA, there is an old-style GELWA carved with symbols representing the people that welcomed them during the ancient, southward journey of  JUH-JEE-NEE’’s family. The GELWA is placed between the KWA-KWALK and MOO-MOO-GA-JOO and carved with: a Skull and Scalp representing Gingolx; a Rose representing Lax Kw’alaams; and Grizzly Bear representing Kitselas.

    This inclusion is meant to highlight the ancient family connections between the present-day HAISLA and our neighbours — something which is not often acknowledged — or indeed known — in today’s times but is part of the whole story of the HAISLA and the GEE-GA-JOAUCH.

    Lyle Wilson 2024

  • Watchmen, Eagles, Frog & Human Totem Pole

    Garner Moody

    Price upon request

    Red Cedar wood, Acrylic paint

    For inquiries on totem pole commissions, please click here.

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