Totem Poles
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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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Eagle, Bear & Halibut with Chief & Raven Talking Stick
Calvin Hunt RCA
CA$12,000.00Red Cedar wood, Acrylic paint
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Haida Lineage Pole – 6ft
Geoff Greene
CA$12,800.00Glass, etched and sandblasted
Custom orders available with either Stainless steel or Natural Maple wood base
Glass thickness 19mm
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 medium of glass. 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. From the top, the Eagle is portrayed perched, 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. The Bear, at the base of the totem, is a close relative to mankind known to share both human and animal traits.
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Eagles Totem Pole
Garner Moody
Price upon requestRed Cedar wood, Acrylic paint
For inquiries on totem pole commissions, please click here.
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Bear & Thunderbird Totem Pole
Aubrey Johnston
Price upon requestRed Cedar wood
73 x 10 x 13″ (without base)
76 x 14 x 13″ (including base)
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Watchmen, Beaver & Eagle with Salmon Totem Pole
Christian White
Price upon requestYellow Cedar wood, Acrylic paint
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Watchman, Eagle, & Bear Totem Pole
Garner Moody
Price upon requestRed Cedar wood, Acrylic paint
For inquiries on totem pole commissions, please click here.
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Qolun (Beaver) Totem Pole
Lyle Wilson
Price upon requestYellow Cedar wood, Acrylic paint
This stunning pole was inspired by the story of how the Beaver Clan came to be part of the Haisla Nation. Each figure depicted on the pole represents an important episode in the journey that the characters in the story take. From top to bottom, the figures being depicted include a squirrel, a halibut, a giant man that is holding an otter, and two beavers.
This particular Haisla story is quite old, and Lyle is one of the few individuals who still knows all of the details. The pole is Lyle’s contemporary portrayal of the tale, which pays tribute to the ancient family connections between the present-day Haisla and their neighbors.
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Watchmen, Eagles, Frog & Human Totem Pole
Garner Moody
Price upon requestRed Cedar wood, Acrylic paint
For inquiries on totem pole commissions, please click here.
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Raven & Frog Totem Pole
Don Yeomans
CA$80,000.00Red Cedar Wood
For inquiries on totem pole commissions, please click here.
Don Yeoman’s Raven & Frog Totem Pole demonstrates the artist’s mastery of cedar wood, particularly in his depth of carving. Yeoman’s decision to leave the pole unpainted serves to utilize a more minimalist approach and highlight the rich beauty of the wood.
Cedar wood is strong, lightweight, and extremely versatile. These qualities lend well to carving, and result in a wood that can be used to create a wide variety of objects.
The Raven is regarded as the Hero, Creator, Transformer, and the most important of all creatures to the coastal First Nations peoples. He is also known as the Trickster because of his wit and sense of humor. His legendary antics were often motivated by insatiable greed, and he loved to tease, to cheat, to woo and to trick. In the oral traditions of the Northwest Coast, Raven is credited with releasing the Sun, and creating the Moon, Stars and the Universe. In Haida culture, Raven is also said to have discovered mankind in a clamshell.
Frogs symbolize new life, good fortune, stability, and communication. They are associated with great wealth and prosperity. As a creature that lives both in water and on land, the Frog is revered for its adaptability, knowledge, and ability to inhabit both natural and supernatural realms. Frogs are the primary spirit helpers of shamans, usually representing the common ground or voice of the people. As a prominent sharer of knowledge, Frog is often shown in artistic depictions as touching its tongue to another figure in an expression of sharing.