Northwest Coastal Totem Poles
Totem poles were used by people of the Northwest Coastal Native Americans to tell a family story, tell the history of a family, or to show people or animals that were important in their life.
Totem poles were carved out of giant cedar trees by the Northwest Coastal Native Americans. A totem pole is like a book that you can read. The totem poles were a way for the people to pass stories down from generation to generation. The figures on the totem poles were symbols, usually animals or birds. The figures on the totem poles represented a person , tribe, or family member. Some totem poles told the history of a family. Still other totem poles were a memorial to someone who had passed on.
After they chopped down the tree the carvers would begin carving the figures into it. They would start at the top and work to the bottom. Carvers put the most important figures on the top of the totem pole and the less important on the bottom. A totem pole that is 60 feet high could take up to three years to finish.
The carvers used handmade tools to carve with. The tools were made from wood, stone and animal horns. They would make paintbrushes from animal hair. The paint colors were made from bark, coal, clay, cooper, and berries.
When a totem pole was finished it was raised and put into place. They would dig a hole in the ground and raise it with ropes. It would take many people to put a totem pole up.
Totem poles were carved out of giant cedar trees by the Northwest Coastal Native Americans. A totem pole is like a book that you can read. The totem poles were a way for the people to pass stories down from generation to generation. The figures on the totem poles were symbols, usually animals or birds. The figures on the totem poles represented a person , tribe, or family member. Some totem poles told the history of a family. Still other totem poles were a memorial to someone who had passed on.
After they chopped down the tree the carvers would begin carving the figures into it. They would start at the top and work to the bottom. Carvers put the most important figures on the top of the totem pole and the less important on the bottom. A totem pole that is 60 feet high could take up to three years to finish.
The carvers used handmade tools to carve with. The tools were made from wood, stone and animal horns. They would make paintbrushes from animal hair. The paint colors were made from bark, coal, clay, cooper, and berries.
When a totem pole was finished it was raised and put into place. They would dig a hole in the ground and raise it with ropes. It would take many people to put a totem pole up.