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Totem Poles

Totem Poles. 7 th Grade Social Science Unit on 7 Native American Regions. What are Totem Poles?. Totem poles are vary tall statues carved from large, mostly Western Red Cedar trees. Totem poles exist primarily in the Pacific Northwest, Alaska and British Columbia areas.

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Totem Poles

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  1. Totem Poles 7th Grade Social Science Unit on 7 Native American Regions

  2. What are Totem Poles? • Totem poles are vary tall statues carved from large, mostly Western Red Cedar trees. • Totem poles exist primarily in the Pacific Northwest, Alaska and British Columbia areas. • Symbols were constructed primarily by Northwest Coast tribal groups including the Tlingit, Kwakiutl, Haida, Tsimshian and Chilkat.

  3. Designs and Symbols on Totem Poles • Each totem pole contains designs and symbols that are carved emblems of the chief's family and tell a story to remind members of their family history. • The totem pole is carved and painted with family or clan emblems, crests and animal figures which represent mythic beings and traits of the individual • It is generally erected in front of or near a dwelling.

  4. Meaning of Totem Poles • The first totem poles were carved from mature cedar and used by family-clans in Potlatch ceremonies. • Potlatch = A ceremony at which the host s showered their guests with gifts • The word totem comes from the Ojibwe language word "odoodem" which means "his kinship group," or brother, sister, kin.

  5. Story-telling behind Totem Poles • Often the meanings of the symbols and story they told were known only by the members of the particular clan or the artist. • Many of the images are based upon photographs of existing totem pole art works currently on display in national public parks, museums and in historical reference material. • Most of the images are presented individually, not in their original totem pole form so children may mix and match to create their own stories and legends.

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