Sitka Historical National Park

The Saanaheit Pole is a copy of one given to Governor John Brady in 1901 by Saanaheit, a resident of Old Kasaan. The original of this very tall pole may have been an entrance pole; the small hump at the base indicates the top of a door opening.

The original pole dates from the 1800's. A Sitka newspaper article from 1902 states that the pole was more than 70 years old at that time. The original was repaired in Governors Brady's sawmill, shipped to the 1904 St. Louis exposition, then to the 1905 Lewis and Clark Exposition in Portland, and finally back to Sitka. During the CCC project, when the pole was about 110 years old, the original was lowered, laid out alongside a new cedar log (made by joining two large logs) and a copy was carved using the designs of the original pole.

Although several figures are identifiable such as the traditional Village Watchmen at the top, a bear and Raven, other figures are not. Unfortunately, little information about this intricately carved giant has survived.

Totem Pole Carver: Reggie Peterson
Totem Pole Location: Sitka National Historical Park

A house post was located inside of a clan house and aided in supporting the beams that ran across the clan house. House posts generally serve one of two purposes: crest poles give the ancestry of a particular family and legend poles illustrate folklore or real life experiences.

These four poles are indoor house posts. Look at the notches in the tops of the poles. The notches were cut to hold the log beams of the house. The figures on the post are believed to represent a legend in which Raven obtains the sun, moon, and stars for the earth.

The original house posts were gifts from Saanaheit to Governor John Brady in 1901. Reggie Peterson reproduced the poles in 1981.

Totem Pole Height: 36 feet
Totem Pole Master Carvers: Will Burkhart, Wayne Price, and Tommy Joseph
Totem Pole Location: Sitka National Historical Park

Commissioned by the Southeast Alaska Indian Cultural Center, this totem pole depicts the first Tlingit people to settle in the Sitka area. It is intended to be a public display of unity between the Tlingit clans. The name of the pole, Haa leelk'u has Kaa sta heeni deiyi Pole, roughly translates to "our grandparents who were the very first people to use the Indian River and the other people who were here too."

The top figure on the pole is Raven the creator. The human figure represents the first people to settle in Sitka. The third figure is the frog, the crest of the Kiks.adi clan. The next figure represents all the Eagle clans. The bottom figure is the brown bear representing a number of clans in the area.

Totem Pole Height: 27 feet
Totem Pole Carver: Duane Pasco
Totem Pole Location: Sitka National Historical Park

In honor of the Nation's Bicentennial in 1976, this pole was commissioned to depict 200 years of Pacific Northwest Indian cultural history.

The top figure, the Northwest Coast Indian of today, is weighing his values, the old way against the new, the effect of technology and industry on the people and ecology of the area.

The next figure signifies the arrival of the white man. The white man brings with him firearms, documents and Christianity. In his right hand is a rolled document, signifying a long line of treaties.

The third segment of the pole shows Raven and Eagle, symbols of the two moieties of the Tlingit people. The Raven and Eagle are holding a copper shield used in inter-tribal commerce. Salmon also depicted, symbolizing abundant food resources.

The bottom figure is the Northwest Coast Indian before the arrival of the white man. The Northwest Coast Indian is living close to nature, sharing a rich material culture and ceremonial life.

This pole is incomplete and symbolizes the unknown future of the Northwest Coast Indians. In the hands of the top figure are two staffs. The staff in the left hand is richly carved, symbolizing the abundant cultural heritage of the past. The staff in the right hand is bare, yet to be carved. What the future will bring remains to be seen.

Totem Pole Carvers: George Benson and John Sam.
Totem Pole Location: Sitka National Historical Park

Some interpretations describe this as a legend pole, showing Raven as the mischief maker. Other sources indicate that it is a crest pole, displaying the raven and frog crests. Unfortunately, little information on its origin is available.

This replica was carved during the early 1940's, reportedly by George Benson and John Sam.

Totem Pole Carver: Tommy Jimmy
Totem Pole Location: Sitka National Historical Park

A crest pole gives the ancestry of a particular family. This pole is believed to be a crest pole portraying the emblems of the Yaadaas clan. Originally it stood at one of the exterior corners of the Yaadas clan house of Old Kasaan.

The figures on the pole may represent the crests of the clan who owned the house. The top figure is the Village Watchman. The next figure is the Raven in Human form followed by the Raven. The final figure is a bear holding an animal in its mouth.

This pole is a copy carved in 1978 to replace the original which was collected in 1903 by Governor John Brady.

Totem Pole Carver: Reggie Peterson
Totem Pole Location: Sitka National Historical Park

The Wolf Pole derives its name from the prominent figure of a wolf in the center of the pole. The top figure is a man, possibly a village watchman or the owner of the totem pole. The middle figure is the wolf, which can be recognized by its pointed ears. The bottom figure is a salmon.

The correct interpretation of a totem pole is not always clear, and two very different interpretations of the Wolf Pole exist. The most likely interpretation describes the pole as a crest pole. The wolf and salmon may represent the clan crest symbols, or they may identify the clan crests of a husband and wife. Another interpretation identifies this pole as a legend pole. This interpretation recognizes the salmon as a sockeye and suggests the legend of a boy who was captured by the Dog Salmon people.

Totem Pole Location: Sitka National Historical Park

A memorial column was a common type of pole found in Southeast Alaska. The memorial column served as a remembrance of the dead or as an honor of a living person. In the early days, the dead were sometimes cremated, and the ashes were placed in an opening in the back to honor that person. A memorial or mortuary column was usually topped by a single figure indicating the clan or moiety of the honored person.

Look closely at the top figure. What type of bird do you think it is? Although it resembles a Raven, the figure is thought to be a cormorant. You can distinguish the cormorant by the design of the feathers on the back of the head and wings and by the length of the beak.

This totem pole is 1979 copy of one collected by Governor John Brady in the early 1900's.

Totem Pole Carver: Tommy Jimmie
Totem Pole Location: Sitka National Historical Park

Many different interpretations of this pole exist. The Tlingit community of Tukewan, from which this pole may have come, claims the figures on the pole are their crests. However, this pole seems to be a legend pole.

From top to bottom the figures on the pole are the Raven, a Shark or Dogfish, a Wolf or Fox, and finally a Bear or Stump.

This pole was carved in 1978 to replace the original pole.

In some instances, a Bear used as the base figure on a totem pole symbolizes that the story had it's origin at the beginning of time. The following is a brief synopsis of a traditional Tlingit legend; it provides an interpretation of the pole as legend pole.