Totem pole

Totem poles are monumental sculptures carved from large trees, mostly Western Red Cedar, by cultures of the indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast of North America. The word totem is derived from the Ojibwe word odoodem, "his kinship group".

History

Being made of cedar, which decays eventually in the rainforest environment of the Northwest Coast, few examples of poles carved before 1900 exist. Noteworthy examples include those at the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria, BC and the Museum of Anthropology at UBC in Vancouver, BC, dating as far back as 1880. And, while 18th century accounts of European explorers along the coast indicate that poles certainly existed prior to 1800, they were smaller and few in number. In all likelihood, the freestanding poles seen by the first European explorers were preceded by a long history of monumental carving, particularly interior house posts. Eddie Malin has proposed that totem poles progressed from house posts, funerary containers, and memorial markers into symbols of clan and family wealth and prestige. He argues that pole construction centered around the Haida people of the Queen Charlotte Islands, from whence it spread outward to the Tsimshian and Tlingit, and then down the coast to the tribes of British Columbia and northern Washington. This is supported by the photographic history of the Northwest Coast and the deeper sophistication of Haida poles. The regional stylistic differences between poles would then be due not to a change in style over time, but to application of existing regional artistic styles to a new medium. Early-20th-century theories, such as those of the anthropologist Marius Barbeau who considered the poles an entirely post-contact phenomenon made possible by the introduction of metal tools, were treated with skepticism at the time and are now discredited [citation needed].

The disruptions following American and European trade and settlement first led to a flowering and then to a decline in the cultures and totem pole carving. The widespread importation of iron and steel tools from Britain, the United States and China led to much more rapid and accurate production of carved wooden goods, including poles. It is not certain whether iron tools were actually introduced by traders, or whether iron tools were already produced aboriginally from drift iron recovered from shipwrecks; nevertheless the presence of trading vessels and exploration ships simplified the acquisition of iron tools whose use greatly enhanced totem pole construction. The Maritime Fur Trade gave rise to a tremendous

accumulation of wealth among the coastal peoples, and much of this wealth was spent and distributed in lavish potlatches frequently associated with the construction and erection of totem poles. Poles were commissioned by many wealthy leaders to represent their social status and the importance of their families and clans. By the 19th century certain Christian missionaries reviled the totem pole as an object of heathen worship and urged converts to cease production and destroy existing poles. Totem pole construction underwent a dramatic decline at the end of the 19th century due to American and Canadian policies and practices of acculturation and assimilation. In the mid-20th century a combination of cultural, linguistic, and artistic revival along with intense scholarly scrutiny and the continuing fascination and support of an educated and empathetic public led to a renewal and extension of this moribund artistic tradition. Freshly-carved totem poles are being erected up and down the coast. Related artistic production is pouring forth in many new and traditional media, ranging from tourist trinkets to masterful works in wood, stone, blown and etched glass, and many other traditional and non-traditional media.

Today a number of successful native artists carve totem poles on commission, usually taking the opportunity to educate apprentices in the demanding art of traditional carving and its concomitant joinery. Such modern poles are almost always executed in traditional styles, although some artists have felt free to include modern subject matter or use nontraditional styles in their execution. The commission for a modern pole ranges in the tens of thousands of dollars; the time spent carving after initial designs are completed usually lasts about a year, so the commission essentially functions as the artist's primary means of income during the period. Totem poles take about 6–12 months to complete.

Meaning and purpose

The meanings of the designs on totem poles are as varied as the cultures that make them. Totem poles may recount familiar legends, clan lineages, or notable events. Some poles celebrate cultural beliefs, but others are mostly artistic presentations. Certain types of totem poles are part of mortuary structures, and incorporate grave boxes with carved supporting poles, or recessed backs for grave boxes. Poles illustrate stories that commemorate historic persons, represent shamanic powers, or provide objects of public ridicule. "Some of the figures on the poles constitute symbolic reminders of quarrels, murders, debts, and other unpleasant occurrences about which the Native Americans prefer to remain silent... The most widely known tales, like those of the exploits of Raven and of Kats who married the bear woman, are familiar to almost every native of

the area. Carvings which symbolize these tales are sufficiently conventionalized to be readily recognizable even by persons whose lineage did not recount them as their own legendary history." (Reed 2003). House front poles were meant to show the success of the families.

Totem poles were never objects of worship. The association with "idol worship" was an idea from local Christian missionaries, who would have seen their association with Shamanism as being an occult practice. The same assumption was made by very early European explorers, but later explorers such as Jean-François de La Pérouse noted that totem poles were never treated reverently; they seemed only occasionally to generate allusions or illustrate stories and were usually left to rot in place when people abandoned a village.

Vertical order of images is widely believed to be a significant representation of importance. This idea is so pervasive that it has entered into common parlance with the phrase "low man on the totem pole." This phrase is indicative of the most common belief of ordering importance, that the higher figures on the pole are more important or prestigious. A counterargument frequently heard is that figures are arranged in a "reverse hierarchy" style, with the most important representations being on the bottom, and the least important being on top. Actually there have never been any restrictions on vertical order[citation needed], many poles have significant figures on the top, others on the bottom, and some in the middle. Other poles have no vertical arrangement at all, consisting of a lone figure atop an undecorated column.

Shame poles

Poles used for public ridicule are usually called "shame poles", and were erected to shame individuals or groups for unpaid debts. Shame poles are rarely discussed today, and their meanings have been forgotten in many places. However, they formed an important subset of poles carved throughout the 19th century.

One famous shame pole is the Seward Pole in Saxman, Alaska. It was apparently created to shame the former U.S. Secretary of State for not repaying a Potlatch to the Tlingit people. On this particular pole, it is apparent that it is a shame pole because his nose and ears are painted red, indicating his stinginess. It is a common misconception that the Lincoln pole, also located in Saxman, is also a shame pole but was actually erected to commemorate the U.S Revenue Cutter Lincoln in its role in helping two rival Tlingit clans establish peace.

Another example of the shame pole is the Three Frogs Pole in Wrangell, Alaska. This pole was erected by Chief Shakes to shame the Kiks.ádi clan into repaying a debt incurred by three of their slaves who impregnated some young women in Shakes's clan. When the Kiks.ádi leaders refused to pay support for the illegitimate children Shakes had the pole commissioned to represent the three slaves as frogs, the frog being the primary crest of the Kiks.ádi clan. This debt was never repaid, and thus the pole still stands next to the Chief Shakes Tribal House in Wrangell. This particular pole's unique crossbar shape has become popularly associated with the town of Wrangell. It was thus used, without recognizing the meaning of the pole, as part of the title design of the Wrangell Sentinel newspaper, where it is still seen today.

A pole in Totem Square, in downtown Sitka, Alaska, designed by George Benson and carved by CCC workers in Wrangell in 1942, depicted Russian governor and Russian American Company manager, Alexander Baranof naked. After a Sitka Tribe of Alaska-sponsored removal ceremony, the pole was lowered on October 20th, 2010 with funds from the Alaska Dept. of Health and Social Services due to safety concerns. The Sitka Sentinel reported that it was "said to be the most photographed totem [pole] in Alaska" while standing. A Shame pole was erected in Cordova, Alaska on March 24, 2007. It includes the inverted and distorted face of Exxon ex-CEO Lee Raymond, representing the unpaid debt that courts determined Exxon owes for having caused the oil spill in Valdez, Alaska.

Construction and maintenance

Erection of a totem pole is almost never done using modern methods, even for poles installed in modern settings on the outside of public and private buildings. Instead, the traditional ceremony and process of erection is still followed scrupulously by most artists, in that a great wooden scaffold is built, and hundreds of strong men haul the pole upright into its footing, while others steady the pole from side ropes and brace it with cross beams. Once the pole is completed, a potlatch is typically held where the carver is formally paid and other traditional activities are conducted. The carver will usually, once the pole is freestanding, perform a celebratory and propitiatory dance next to the pole while wielding the tools used to carve it. Also, the base of the pole is burnt before erection to provide a sort of rot resistance.

Totem poles are typically not well maintained after their erection. Traditionally once the wood rots so badly that it begins to lean and pose a threat to passersby, the pole is either destroyed or pushed

over and removed. Older poles typically fall over during the winter storms that batter the coast. A totem pole rarely lasts over 100 years. A collapsed pole may be replaced by a new one carved more or less the same as the original, with the same subject matter, but this requires a new payment and potlatch and is thus not always done. The beliefs behind the lack of maintenance vary among individuals, but generally it is believed that the deterioration of the pole is representative of natural processes of decay and death that occur with all living things, and attempts to prevent this are seen as somehow denying or ignoring the nature of the world.

This has not, however, prevented many people from occasionally renewing the paint on poles or performing further restorations, mostly because the expense of a new pole is beyond feasibility for the owner. Also, owners of poles who are not familiar with cultural traditions may see upkeep as a necessary investment for property, and ignore the philosophical implications.

Property

Each culture typically has complex rules and customs regarding designs represented on poles. The designs themselves are generally considered the property of a particular clan or family group, and this ownership may not be transferred to the owner of a pole. As such, pictures, paintings, and other copies of the designs are often seen as an infringement of possessory rights of a certain family or cultural group. Many Native artists, Native organizations and Native governments note that the ownership of the artistic designs represented on a pole should be respected as private property to the same extent that the pole itself is property, and request that public display and sale of pictures and other representations of totem pole designs should be cleared with both the owners of the pole and the cultural group or tribal government associated with the designs on the pole.

However totem poles in general are not the exclusive cultural property of a single culture, so the designs are not easily protected. The appropriation by art and tourist trinket worlds of Northwest Coast American culture has resulted in, among other things, an inundation of cheap imitations of totem poles executed with little or no knowledge of the complex stylistic conventions demanded by Northwest Coast art. These include imitation styles made by other First Nations and Native American peoples in the various parts of Canada and the American Southwest. This proliferation of "totem junk" has diluted the public interest and respect for the artistic skill and deep cultural knowledge required to produce a pole.

In the early 1990s, the Haisla First Nation of the Pacific Northwest began a lengthy struggle to repatriate a sacred totem from Sweden's Museum of Ethnography. Their successful efforts were documented in a NFB documentary by Gil Cardinal, Totem: The Return of the G'psgolox Pole.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Totem_pole

A totem can be the symbol of a tribe, clan, family or individual. Native American tradition provides that each individual is connected with nine different animals that will accompany each person through life, acting as guides. Different animal guides come in and out of our lives depending on the direction that we are headed and the tasks that need to be completed along our journey.  Native beliefs further explain that a totem animal is one that is with you for life, both in the physical and spiritual world. Though people may identify with different animal guides throughout their lifetimes, it is this one totem animal that acts as the main guardian spirit. With this one animal a connection is shared, either through interest in the animal, characteristics, dreams, or other interaction.This Animal Guide offers power and wisdom to the individual when they "communicate” with it, conveying their respect and trust. This does not necessarily mean that you actually pet or spend time with this animal, more that you are open to learning its lessons.   For some, knowing what is their totem animal is almost an innate process. It’s as if they’ve always known, inexplicably drawn to the animal or having a special feeling for the animal’s energy. For others, they wonder how to tell what their animal totem is.

Here are some questions to ask yourself if you’re wondering what your animal totem is:

Have you ever felt drawn to one animal or another without being able to explain why? This could be animal, including birds and insects.

Does a certain kind of animal consistently appear in your life? This doesn’t necessarily have to be a physical appearance, it could be represented in other ways such as receiving card and letters with the same animal pictured over and over, unexplainable dreams of a particular animal, watching television and seeing the same animal featured time and time again, or, actually having the animal show up.

When you go to the zoo, a park, wildlife area, or forest, what are you most interested in seeing? Are there any animals that you find to be extremely frightening or intriguing? Is there a particular animal that you see frequently when you’re out in nature? Have you ever been bitten or attacked by an animal? Have you ever had a recurring dream about a certain animal, or a dream from childhood that you

have never been able to forget? Are you drawn to figurines or paintings of a specific animal?

The totem itself is a symbol that represents this animal.  This could be any number of items - a crest, a totem pole, an emblem, a small figurine or anything else that depicts your animal guide.  Note:  Native American totems did not include all of the animals listed below, as many of these creatures did not existed in North America. However; the concept of "totems," by whatever name they were called, have been known throughout the world since the earliest days of Greek Mythology. Though the unicorn is generally accepted as a centuries old mythical creature of Europeans, pictures of this fabled animal have been found in Native American tapestries and pictographs 

 Animal Characteristics & Meaning 

Alligator Maternal, revenge oriented, quickness, aggression, and basic survival instincts.

Ant Group minded, determination, patient, active, and industrious

Anteater Lethargy, curiosity, nosiness.

Antelope Active, agile, jumpiness, and willing to sacrifice

Armadillo Safety oriented, grounded, and has boundaries

Badger Courage, aggressive, healer, having problems relating to others, and energy conduit

Bat Rebirth, longevity, secrecy, initiation, good listener, and long life

Bear Industrious, instinctive, healing, power, sovereignty, guardian of the world, watcher, courage, will power, self-preservation, introspection, and great strength.

Beaver Determined, strong-willed, builder, overseer, and protector

Bee Organized, industrial, productive, wise, community, celebration, fertility, defensiveness, obsessive nature, and enjoys life

Boar/Pig A very powerful totem - prosperity, spiritual strength, organized, self-reliant, fearless.

Buffalo Sacredness, life, great strength, abundance, gratitude.

Bull Insight into the past, fertility, rushing into things without proper preparation.

Butterfly Metamorphosis, transformation, balnace, grace, ability to accept change

Camel Survival, positive, accomplishments

Caribou Traveler, mobility, preference to be nomadic, adaptability to adversity

Cat Guardianship, detachment, sensuality, mystery, magic, and independence

Cheetah Swiftness, insight, focus

Cougar Leadership, loyalty, courage, taking responsibility, foresight

Cow Swift, insightful, and focused

Coyote Trickster, intelligence, stealth, wisdom and folley, guile and innocence

Cobra Swift and decisive

Crab Good luck, protection and success

Crane Solitude, justice, longevity, independent, intelligent, and vigilant

Crocodile Ensuring your emotions are displayed accurately/appropriately

Crow Justice, shape shifting, change, creativity, spiritual strength, energy, community sharing, and balance

Deer Compassion, peace, intellectual, gentle, caring, kind, subtlety, gracefulness, femininity, gentleness, innocence, and seller of adventure

Dog Noble, faithful, loyal, teaching, protection, and guidance

Dolphin Kind, salvation, wisdom, happiness, playfulness, prudent, capable of deep emotion, and happy.

Dove Cross-world communication, spirit messenger, peace, gentleness, love

Dragon Longevity, richness, prosperity, infinity, wisdom, power, and fiery

Dragonfly Flighty and carefree, strong imagination, higher aspirations.

Duck Water energy, helper of seers, can clearly see/deal with emotions

EagleDivine spirit, sacrifice, connection to creator, intelligence, renewal, courage, illumination of spirit, healing, creation, freedom, and risk-taker

Elephant Strength, power, affection, loyalty, royalty, and wisdom

Elk Strength and agility, pride, majestic, independence, purification, strength, and nobility

Falcon New beginnings, adventure, passionate, and leadership.

Fish Graceful, slyness, open-minded, quick to change one's mind.

Flamingo Heart healing, psychic, people person, flirtatious.

Fox Cunning, agility, quick-witted, diplomacy, wildness, feminine magic of camouflage, shapeshifting and invisibility

Frog Water energy, cleansing, rebirth, sensitivity, medicine, hidden beauty, peace, adaptability, poor character judgment and power.

Gazelle Aggressive

Giraffe Communication, intuition, attaining the unreachable, seeing the future

Goat Surefootedness, stubbornness, independence, diligence, lack of foresight.

Goose Self-demanding, reliable, prudent, rigid, vigilance, parenthood, and productive.

Gorilla Family-oriented, intelligence, strength, environmental protector, keeps peace through aggression.

Grasshopper Good luck, abundance, forward, progressive.

Grouse Personal power, enlightenment.

Hawk Messenger, intuition, victory, healing, nobility, recollection, cleansing, visionary power, and guardianship.

Heron/Egret Aggressive, self-determined, self-reliant, multi-tasking, balanced.

Hippopotamus

Power, creation, imagination, healing.

Horse Freedom, stamina, mobility, the land, travel, power, and freedom.

Hummingbird

Messenger, timelessness, healing, and warrior.

Jaguar Chaos, shape-shifter, aggressiveness, power.

Kangaroo Forward, balance, creative, stamina.

Lion Family, strength, energy, courage, guardian and protector.

Lizard Conservation, vision, self-protection, hidden defenses.

Llama Comforting to others, secure.

Lynx Keeper of secrets, guardian, listener, and guide.

Mole Sensitivity, guidance, searching.

Monkey Ability to change the environment, health, success.

Moose Headstrong, longevity, steadfastness, and wisdom.

Mouse Scrutiny, order, organizer, and an eye for details.

Octopus Intelligence, camouflage, nocturnal.

Opossum Diversion, strategist, and deceiver.

Ostrich Grounded, practical.

Otter Playful, friendly, dynamic, joy, helpfulness, and sharing

Owl Deception, clairvoyance, insight, messenger.

Ox Sacrifice, chastity and self-denial

Panther Protection, hidden emotions, introspection, caution, careful decisions

Parrot Communication, beauty, guide for wisdom, mockery, thinking before speaking

Peacock Immortality, dignity, and self-confidence

Pelican Resilient, unselfish, rising above.

Penguin Self-discipline, grace, self-confidence, spiritual

Porcupine Innocence, companionship, and trust

Prairie Dog Swiftness, industrious, constructive, preparedness

Puma Companion on journeys to other worlds, grace, silent power

Quail Group-work, team play, creator of harmony and group tolerance, protectiveness (especially toward children)

Rabbit Fear, timidity, nervousness, humility, rebirth,

Raccoon Curiosity and cleanliness

Ram Stoic, sensitive, persevering, curious, imaginative. 

Rat Fertility, stealth, scavenging, intelligence, enjoys luxury

Raven Introspection, courage, self-knowledge, magic

Rhinoceros Wisdom, solitary, insightful, solid.

Roadrunner Mental agility, speed, opportunistic.

Rooster Vanity, likes to be showered with gifts and attention, early riser, settling for nothing less than the best

Salmon Proud, intense, confident, wisdom, inspiration

Scorpion Transforming, strong, inspiring, chaotic,  passionate

Seagull Versatility, loud, easy-going nature, creativity, laziness

Seahorse Confidence and grace

Seal Love, longing, dilemma, active imagination, creativity

Shark Hunter, survival, and adaptability

Skunk Reputation, presence, and strength

Snail Protective, aware, solitary.

Snake Impulsive, shrewdness, rebirth, transformation, initiation, and wisdom

Spider Balance, wisdom, creativity, communication

Squirrel Planner and gatherer

Stag Lord of the forest, masculine power of regeneration, signs.

Swan Grace, balance and innocence, soul, love, beauty, of the self

Tiger Strength, valor, power, and energy

Toad inner strength, luck, self-examination

Turkey Generosity, life-giver, and sharer

Turtle Nurturer, shy, and protecting

Unicorn Purity, innocence, dreamer, personal power, gentle

Weasel Strength, energy, ingenuity and stealth

Whale Wisdom, provider, intelligence, and kindness.

Wolf Loyalty, perseverance, success, intuition, and spirit

Woodpecker Sensitive, protective, and devotion

Zebra Agility and individuality

www.legendsofamerica.com/na- totems .html

Totem Poles

This information is for reference only - some local tribes and areas or time may have altered this research. It should be

fairly accurate though as most of  it comes from Jesuit missionaries records from 1700 - 1800's and from a book

from The Boy Scouts of America Service Library called "Totem Poles" by Robert W. De Groat printed in 1930 and

sold for 20 cents. Number 3196

 Thousands of years ago when man was in his early savage state, Totemism had its origin. In his conflict with the rough forces of nature man learned the habits, the virtues, and the strong features of certain animals. He respected them and prided himself on the stories he could tell of his adventures among the beasts. From one outstanding adventure he would acquire his tribal name. The name would not be the same as the animal but it would stand for the virtues which that particular animal possessed. For instance a man might be called "Huya" which stood for "fighting Eagle."  When his people called him "Huya" they not only used it for convenience, but they thought immediately of the deeds behind the name.   Many persons still retain common family names such as Fox, Green, Stone, etc., which were originally totems. In the early days a man did not sign his name. He would draw the picture of the animal in what is known as "pictograph" form. Some of these ancient pictographs are on exhibition in some of our larger museums. Primitive man was very proud of his totem, since in those early days it stood for all that a family

name and its traditions stand for nowadays. It was his name, his ancestors name, something held in reverence.  The Indian was wise in many ways. He carved his family history on a large pole and erected it where everyone could see it. To a certain extent it helped him live a finer life, as his deeds were deeply incised in monumental form, impossible to change at a moments notice. The pole generally started with the oldest history at the bottom, and read upward. It was topped with the family totem or crest, giving a royal appearance and strong silhouette. Among certain tribes of the Northwest, two watchmen were used as a crowning feature.   Early totems were carved with stone tools. As metals parts of boats washed ashore, and European and Asian settlers arrived, the carvers began to use metal tools.

 

Types of Totem PolesBurial Poles - Carry a story about the deceased.Crest Poles - Give the ancestry of particular family. Heraldic Poles - These totems stand in the front area of the house displaying the family history.History Poles - Record the history of a clan. House Frontal Poles - Like portals, the cedar posts stand by the entrance of the house.Indoor House Posts - These poles support the roof and also carry many clan emblems.Legend Poles - illustrate folklore or real life experiences. Memorial Poles - commemorate a particular individual. Potlatch poles - These totems are carved exclusively by the Haida Natives to commemorate festivals and events.Ridicule poles - These totem poles were sometimes erected to shame debtors. 

Prominent Features of TotemsRaven - beak sharp protruding

Wolf - long sharp muzzle and elevated snoutBear - usually realistically featured large nostrils, paws, and

fangsMountain Goat - sharp horns, cleft hoof as a foot with two

toes

Killer Whale - two prominent dorsal fins, large head, mouth turned up at corners, two spines above eyes

Dogfish Shark - gills slits as crescents, crescent shaped mouth, depressed at corners and filled with saw-like teeth

Halibut - continuous fin, both eyes on one sideOctopus - bird like head, hooked bill, suction plates and

tentaclesInsect - carved much like birds difficult to recognize

Supernatural Symbols - carved as adaptations of local species, such as - sea grizzly carved as bears with finsToads - carved realistically and used as space fillers,

inclusion on pole believed to prevent pole from rottingSea Animals - round eyes while all other animal eyes are

carved as two curves enclosing a circleMen and Women - represented realistically, women are

distinguished by a labret in their lower lip 

Meaning of Totem Pole Colors"These colors were fairly consistent through United States

although they may have varied from tribe to tribe in shades"For paint the Indians originally used pigments from clay and

roots. The colors were very bright and became subdued after the pole had weathered several winters. The

symbolism of the colors changed a little in different parts of United States.

WhiteThis color is used, along with other light colors, as a background and predominating shade. As a rule it

symbolized the skies and the spacious heavens. It also stood for purity, peace and death.

RedGenerally this color stands for blood, war or valor.

Sometimes it is used as appears in nature, such as the crest of a red-headed woodpecker, the scarlet tanager or

frequently the tongue of an animal.Blue

This color was most commonly used as the symbol for the rivers, water and lakes, also the skies. Certain tribes even

used it for mountains in the distance. It stands for sincerity and happiness. Berries formed a large portion of the natural

color. Western clay and pigments of the canyons also lent varying hues to this effective color.

YellowThe natural abundant materials made this color a very

popular and predominating one. Clays, roots and tannic barks furnished the natives with dyes. Yellow reflects the

symbol of the sun, light and happiness. Yellow dye is readily

made from tree moss.Green

It may easily be realized that this color represents the earth, the hills, the trees, and mountains, so common in all Indian legends. This color may be obtained by mixing two primary colors, yellow and blue, or it may be made from simple acid action on copper. In certain sections of the

West, Northwest. and Upper Midwest copper was rather abundant. Other parts of the country used the grasses.

PurpleHuckleberries give a very good substance for dyeing and the Indians used this commonly. Purple is an excellent color for

recessed portions of the carving and for symbols of a reverent nature. It stood for mountains in the distant and

general conventionalized signs.Black

Mud from sulphur springs and other earth deposits made this color available to the Indian. As a rule it stood for

power. 

The West Coast America's Tribe'sHaida - a little paint

Bella Coola - highly painted in bright colorsTsimshian - tall poles

Kwakiutl - often thunderbird at top, highly paintedTlingit - (Alaska) - red and pastel colors

Salish - smaller figures and polesNootka - tall and small poles

 Color is also employed to designate directions. Below is an explanation of these colors used by most Tribes

in USADirectional Colors - Red is South, blue-green is West,

yellow indicates North, and white is East.

Numbers are also usedOne - South,  Two - West, Three - North, Four - East, Five

Upper World or Sun, Six Mother Earth, Seven Sacred  Fire in the center of the Universal Circle. The  connection to The

Universal Spirit, The Great One, Great  Spirit,  

Prominent Features of Totem FiguresOwl - small triangular peak - big eyes

Thunderbird - very powerful eagle - magical - usually spread wings

Eagle and Raven - beaks stick out

Killer Whale - Orca - long flat sides, fish tale, can be black and white

Salmon or Flounder - flat sides, round eyesGrizzly Bear - bear paws, snout, ears

Frog - usually shown from aboveMosquito or Hummingbird - long, thin beak

Mountain Goat - horns and hoofed feetHuman - face, hands, feet of a person

Baby - usually under an adultMoon - big circle

Sun - big circle with rays 

Symbols Represented the FollowingThese Symbols are examples from Indian tribes around United States. They are fairly universal although some

Tribes may not use some of these symbols and others may have other meanings for them on a local level.

BeaverCreative,

Artistic and Determined

BearStrength, Learned Humility,

Motherhood, Teaching

BumblebeeHonesty,

Pure Thinking - Willingness

and Drive

BuffaloIt represents

the Great Spirit

manifested

ButterflyTransformation and the ability

to accept change

 Copper

Wealth and Prestige

CougarPower,

leadership,encourages

responsibility for  life

CowMotherhood

and nourishment,

fertility

CrocodileEmotional

nature

CoyoteHelps you recognize your own mistakes

 Crow

Find balance living in present

release past beliefs

DeerGentleness,

kindness and compassion

Dolphinbreath,

communication, interpreting your dreams

DogfishPersistence

and Strength A Born Leader

DoveLove,

Gentleness and Kindness

 Dragon Fly

Ever-changing Life

EagleGreat

Strength, courage

Leadership and Prestige

Eagle Feather

Good Luck to Both Giver

and Receiver

 FrogSpring & New

Life - Communicator,

Stability

Grizzly BearStrength and

Ferocity

 Halibut

Life protector, Strength and

Stability

HawkStrength Far

Sighted

HeronPatience,

Graceful and Easy Going

Horsecommunicate

with other realms

message carrier.

Human facesPeople

 Hummingbird Killer Whale Kingfisher Lizard Loon

Love, Beauty, Intelligence,

Spirit Messenger

Seas and the UnderworldTraveler & Guardian - Symbol of

Good

Luck, Patience, Speed and

Agility

your awareness,

your subconscious

hopes and fears

Peace, Tranquility -

Generous Giving Nature

 Moon

Protector and Guardian of the Earth by

Night Height

MouseTo notice the little things in

life

Mountain Goat

Nobility  

OtterTrusting,

Inquisitive and Bright -

Loyal Friendship

OwlWisdom,

ability to see things

normally hidden from

view

 Raven

Creation & Knowledge -

Bringer of the Light

SalmonDependability and Renewal -

A Provider

SealBright,

Inquisitive, Organized

SnakeHelps get rid

of useless problems and items like it sheds it skin

SpiderCreativity, weaving of

fate

 Squirrel

Develops the ability to plan ahead and to

anticipate your future

needs

SwanGives ability

to handle change and

transformation with grace and dignity

SunHealing Energy,

Guardian of the Earth by

Day

ThunderbirdPowerful & Mystical - A

Leader

TurtleGives ability to keep your feet on the ground and

pay attention to earthly

things.

 Weasel

Encourages you to develop your sense of inner hearing and to pay attention to your

inner voice.

Whalegives you the ability to

know the wisdom of the ages - from the

time before time

WolfIntelligence &

Leadership - Strong Sense of Family

 

Authentic Totems of American Indian TribesIroquois

Mohawks - Bear, wolf, and turtle.Oneidas - Bear, wolf, turtle.Onondagas - Bear, wolf, turtle, deer, beaver, eel, snipe.Cayugas - Bear, wolf, turtle, deer, beaver, eel, snipe, hawk.Senecas - Bear, wolf, turtle, deer, beaver, heron, snipe, hawk.Tuscaroras - Bear, gray wolf, yellow wolf, great turtle, little turtle, beaver, eel, snipe.Hurons or Wyandots - Big turtle, little turtle, mud turtle, wolf, bear, beaver, deer, porcupine, striped turtle, prairie

turtle, snake, hawk. 

Algonkin Tribes on the AtlanticDelaware's or Lenapes - Wolf, bear, dog, opossum, turtle, little turtle, mud turtle, great turtle, yellow eel, turkey, crane, chicken.Mohicans - Wolf, turtle, turkey, bear, dog, opossum, yellow eel, crane, chickenAbenakis (Maine) - Wolf, wild cat (black), bear, snake, spotted animal, beaver, caribou, sturgeon, muskrat, pigeon, hawk, squirrel, spotted frog, crane, porcupine.

 

Mississippi Algonkin TribesPueblo TribesMiami's - Wolf, loon, eagle, buzzard, panther, turkey, raccoon, snow, sun, water.Sauks and Foxes - Wolf, bear, deer, elk, hawk, eagle, fish, buffalo, thunder, pine, fox, sea, sturgeon, big tree.Shawnees -  Wolf, loon, bear, buzzard, panther, owl, turkey, deer, raccoon, turtle, snake, horse, rabbit.Menomonis - Bear, porcupine, turtle, crane, wolf, otter, sturgeon, sunfish, big thunder, golden eagle, fork-tail hawk, bald eagle, turkey-buzzard, winter hawk, red tail hawk, crow, raven, beaver, elk, pine squirrel, wolf, dog, deer, bald eagle, fish hawk, great heron, coot, marten, fisher.Ojibways - Crane, catfish, loon, bear, marten, reindeer, wolf, merman, pike, lynx, eagle, rattlesnake, moose, black duck or cormorant, goose, sucker, sturgeon, white fish, beaver, gull, hawk, mud turtle, snapping turtle, little turtle, snipe, duck, snake, muskrat, heron, hull-head or bull-pout, sparrow, hawk, water snake, forked tree, wildcat, otter, buffalo, birch-bark, white oak tree, grizzly bear, reindeer, pike.Seminoles - Wind, tiger or panther, otter, bird, deer, wolf, snake, alligator.Chickasaw - Wildcat, bird, panther, fish, deer, raccoon, squirrel, alligator, wolf,  blackbird.Cherokees - Wolf, holly, acorn, deer, bird, long prairie.Hopi - Horn-flute, mountain sheep, deer, antelope, elk, seed grass, ant, corn, rain cloud, rainbow, lightning, agaves, rabbit-brush, duck, frog, tadpole, snake, puma, dove, cactus, marmot, skunk, raccoon, squash, crane, pigeon hawk, thistle, eagle, hawk, turkey, sun, star, chicken hawk, willow, parrot, cottonwood, macaw, corn, badger, butterfly, coyote, skeleton,hemlock, buck-grass, squash, yellow fox, gray fox, juniper, striped squirrel, lizard, spider, fir, oak,

magpie, field mouse, porcupine, turkey buzzard.Zuni - Crane or pelican, evergreen oak, coyote, badger, antelope, sun, eagle, parrot-macaw, cotton-tail rabbit, tortoise, rouse, bear, maize plant, deer, turkey, toad or frog, rattle-snake, sunflower.Scattered Tribes of the Pueblos - Calabash, mountain lion, turquoise, granite, arrow, humming bird, blue bird, timber, gopher, pine, boulder goose.Mahaves - Moon, caterpillar, coyote, rain cloud, sun, beaver, mesquite.

Northwest IndiansTlingit - Raven, frog, goose, sea lion, owl, salmon, beaver, codfish, skate, wolf, eagle, bear, killer-whale, shark, auk, gull, sparrow-hawk, thunder-bird.Haidas - Raven clan, eagle, killer-whale, black bear, loon, woodpecker, thunder-bird, hawk, wolf, dogfish, devilfish, owl, land otter, grizzly bear, sea lion, mountain goat, rainbow.Eagle Clan - beaver, sculpin, frog, raven, dogfish, halibut, land otter, starfish, hummingbird, skate.Tsimshian - Raven, codfish, starfish, eagle, halibut, beaver, whale, wolf, crane, grizzly bear, bear, killer whale, dolphin, sun, moon, grouse.Omahas - Male elk and deer, red maize, bear, turtle or tortoise, bird, white crane, verdigris, or green clay, deer head, buffalo head, white clay, buffalo tail, reptiles, thunder, black shoulder, wolf.Poncas - Thunder, fire, wind-makers, wildcat, bald elk, earth, medicine, dark buffalo, osage.Iowa's - Black bear, wolf, white wolf, black wolf, gray wolf, coyote, eagle, thunder-being, golden eagle, gray eagle, spotted eagle, bald eagle, elk, beaver, pigeon, raccoon, grouse, buffalo, rattlesnake, owl.Kansas or Kaw - Deer, black eagle, prairie wolf, tent, bear, duck, turtle, thunder, buffalo, elk, earth, white eagle, raccoon, osage, black bear, ghost, gray hawk.Osages - Sun, comet, buffalo bull, black bear, elk, swan, bald eagle, turtle, fish, pond-lily.Winnebagoes - Wolf, elk, bear, deer, buffalo, snake, eagle, thunder.Mandans - Wolf, bear, prairie chicken, good knife, eagle, flathead, high village.Crows -  Prairie dog, skunk, lost lodges, bear's paw, fish catchers, raven, antelope.Creek Indians - Wolf, bear, skunk, alligator, panther, mole, fish, hickory nut, beaver, snake, bear, deer, wind, fox, maize, salt, otter, bird,

toad, raccoon, wildcat, buffalo.

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