The 30-foot-high pole features a Hawk, Bear (holding a salmon), Raven and Killer Whale.

Totem poles are monuments created by the Indigenous peoples of the Northwest Pacific Coast to represent and commemorate ancestry, histories, people, or events. They are typically carved from red cedar, a malleable wood that is relatively abundant in the Pacific Northwest.

Most display crest animals that mark a family’s lineage. Rather than telling a story, serve to document stories and histories familiar to community members or specific family or clan members.

A potlatch is held when are erected. These are usually clan gatherings, but if commemorates an interaction with another clan, everyone takes part.

In the late 1800s, missionaries misunderstood , believing it to be an object of worship. As a result, potlatches and the erecting of were outlawed in both Canada 🇨🇦 and the United States🇺🇸. During this time, Native American artists began making small, model to sell to tourists. It was not until 1951 that the anti-potlatch law was rescinded, allowing tribes to once again raise new to celebrate their families, communities, and lands.