Chief Wakas Totem Pole

This pole was built and erected c.1899 in front of the house of Chief Wakas in Alert Bay on Cormorant Island, British Columbia.  In 1928 the Art, Historical and Scientific Association of Vancouver bought the pole for $700.  It was shipped to Stanley Park.  In 1985, it was moved to the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia.  In 1987, it was transferred to Canadian Museum of Civilization for conservation.  A replica pole was made and dedicated on May 31, 1987 in Stanley Park.  The original pole, fully restored, is on display at the Canadian Museum of History.

From top to bottom:

1. Thunderbird holding a whale
2. Wolf (one of the ancestors of Chief Wakas)
3. Wise One
4. Cannibal Bird
5. Bear
6. Raven

Colours added to the postcard are inaccurate.

Cultural Style: Kwakiutl

More Information:

http://atom.moa.ubc.ca/index.php/kwakwakawakw-wakas-pole

https://www.historymuseum.ca/cmc/exhibitions/aborig/grand/ghhe4eng.html

http://stanleyparkvan.com/stanley-park-van-attraction-totem-pole-chief-wakas.html

Chief Shakes Totem Pole

This group of postcards shows the Chief Shakes totem pole.  This painted pole was carved by William Ukas and raised in 1896.  It survived until 1978, when a windstorm blew over the pole, which was in poor condition.  A replica pole was built to replace it and is located in Kiksadi Totem Park in Wrangell, Alaska.

From top to bottom:

1. Raven
2. Box that contains the sun
3. Raven with sun halo.  On the Raven's chest is a female wearing a labret (lip piercing).
4. Raven
5. Tribal Astronomer or Woman Who Holds Up the Earth

Cultural Style: Tlingit

Do not trust the colours of this postcard.

More information:

https://livingnewdeal.org/projects/chief-shakes-historic-site-raven-pole-shakes-island-wrangell-ak/

http://www.alaskafloatsmyboat.com/beachcombing/2012/12/10/xauhysh0amo05jo73384hihdpc2hlj

New Blog

I have only been collecting totem postcards for a few years and have been inspired to create a blog after seeing totems in person in Alaska and British Columbia.  I really enjoyed visiting the Royal BC Museum in Victoria and Museum of Anthropology at UBC.  I look forward to posting pages dedicated to specific totems found on postcards in my small collection.  The research on the totem should be very interesting.

The first totem I plan to post was carved by William Ukas and raised in Wrangell, Alaska in 1896.