West Coast Totems

Wikipedia

"A totem is a spirit being, sacred object, or symbol that serves as an emblem of a group of people, such as a family, clan, lineage, or tribe.

Totem poles are monumental carvings, a type of Northwest Coast art, consisting of poles, posts or pillars, carved with symbols or figures. They are usually made from large trees, mostly western red cedar, by First Nations and indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest coast including northern Northwest Coast Haida, Tlingit, and Tsimshian communities in Southeast Alaska and British Columbia, communities in southern British Columbia, and the Coast Salish communities in Washington and British Columbia.

The carvings may symbolize or commemorate ancestors, cultural beliefs that recount familiar legends, clan lineages, or notable events. The poles may also serve as functional architectural features, welcome signs for village visitors, mortuary vessels for the remains of deceased ancestors, or as a means to publicly ridicule someone. They may embody a historical narrative of significance to the people carving and installing the pole." 

Our friend Carole Olsen took Beatriz and I on a most memorable sail to Prince Rupert on her yacht.

Travelling through the Inside Passage on the West Coast of British Columbia was a once in a lifetime experience. Along with the joy of viewing Orcas, eagles, wolves, ravens and the many wild life, were the delicious meals prepared by the first mate and captain.  That included fresh prawns cooked in a huge pot on deck immediately after emptying the prawn traps.

Beatriz became lost as she lay flat over the prow like a mast head with her arms outstretched, laughing and interacting with the porpoises that surfed below her in the waves generated by the prow of the ship as we plowed through the clear summer water. 

For a long while she communicated with porpoise after porpoise.  They called out and you could see others come from a half mile away. All came to play with her. They would cock their heads and when she would laugh out loud, they would tilt their heads, watch her with one eye and spit water at her. I thought for awhile I would lose her to their wooing and her wanting to slip in with them. 

One night we dropped anchor in a bay and watched the moon set over the inside curve of the island. 

Early the next morning I arose quietly so as not to awake anyone, grabbed my camera and climbed to the third deck, to the area outside the captains wheel house.

I was amazed as the sun rose at the beauty.  I scanned the shoreline and began to take photos.  There was about an 18 foot drop in the tide and the sea was glassy smooth. When I focused and zoomed in I had to catch my breath.

You can imagine, I could not keep this to myself. I quickly slipped back to our berth to awake Beatriz so we could enjoy the scenery together. 

My thoughts immediately flipped the images on their side and I saw faces, really totems.  

             

After arriving home I took a piece of paper, folded it and cut out a few snips.  Then I laid the cut out on the photos and voila, there were many, many faces.  Try it, how many faces do you find?

                                         


The scenery was breathtaking; the company of friends most enjoyable; the fresh salmon and shrimp still lingers on our taste buds; we still marvel at the totems.  I believe the first people had artists who view these images and decided, were even compelled to carve them on poles.  Oh yes, I think Wiki needs to rewrite their definition of how the totems began and yes, Beatriz still surfs with porpoises.