Walk Through Totem Pole History on Sitka’s Totem Trail

National Park Service/Public Domain

I’ve always found totem poles fascinating.

Standing at the base of one, looking up—sometimes as high as 20 meters—you can’t help but be amazed by the incredible detail. I imagine how difficult it must be to transform a log into a totem pole, and I’m moved by how much history, culture, and meaning each one carries.

Totem poles are monuments created by First Nations of the Pacific Northwest to represent and commemorate ancestry, histories, people, or events. — Indigenous Foundations

Each totem pole documents a story or family history, and the stories are passed down from generation to generation. Sometimes only the carver or the person who commissioned the pole would know the story behind it, so the meaning and significance would be explained to the community during a pole-raising ceremony.

As an article by Indigenous Foundations explains, “Carving a totem pole requires not only artistic skill, but an intimate understanding of cultural histories and forest ecology.”

So where is the best place to see totem poles?

Well, according to Wanderlust Magazine, “The relatively warmer temperatures and abundance of cedar trees in the Inside Passage in the southeast of Alaska mean the tribes based in that region – the Tlingit, Haida, Eyak, and Tsimshian – are credited for most of the state’s totem poles.”

While there are many opportunities to see and learn about totem poles around the Ketchikan area, Sitka has something special to offer: the Totem Trail.

Located within Sitka National Historical Park, it features 20 Tlingit and Haida totem poles situated along a coastal rainforest walkway. The trail is a loop just under a mile long and provides an easy walk for anyone looking to enjoy the outdoors and soak up the area’s history at the same time.

The trail has its own unique story, dating back to 1903. At the time, Governor John Brady assembled a collection of totem poles from Native chiefs in various locations along the coast of southeast Alaska to display at an exposition in St. Louis. The idea was to publicize the “real” Alaska and generate interest in a little-known land. From there, the totem poles traveled to Portland to be featured in another exhibit before coming back to Alaska in January of 1906, where Brady envisioned creating a "totem pole park" where they could be preserved.

After many long journeys, repairs on the totem poles were needed before they could be placed in the park. Now, more than 100 years later, many of the original poles have been re-carved or otherwise altered by patching, painting, and repairs by caretakers. However, their purpose lives on.

Just as Governor Brady intended when he began his efforts to preserve and display Alaska's totem poles more than 100 years ago, the totem poles of Sitka National Historical Park remain powerful symbols that draw people to Alaska and provide a tangible link to the past. — National Park Service

The nearby park visitor center, along with the Southeast Alaska Indian Cultural Center, provides further information and insight into Alaska’s First Nations people.

Here, visitors can meet with artists, watch them at work, and learn about their culture. The center also offers courses in traditional arts.

Follow me to see more articles like this.

...

Follow