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Blackfish pole
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Blackfish pole

Blackfish at the top of this pole is a killer whale. This human figure at the bottom of the pole with the terrified look on his face was killed by Blackfish at the urging of Blackfish's creator, the brother-in-law of the victim. This photograph was used on the cover of the guidebook "Silent Storytellers of Totem Bight State Historical Park" published by the Alaska Geographic Asspciation in 2009.

AlaskaKetchikan TotemsTotem BightTotems

  • Man Wearing a Bear Hat
  • Thunderbird and Whale
  • Blackfish pole
  • Saxman Village
  • Saxman Village
  • This pole serves two purposes. First, it is a genealogical record of four house groups and serves as a memorial to them. Although not visible in this photo, an eagle at the top of the pole symbolizes the Eagle Claw House. This is followed by two beavers representing the Beaver Dam House and the Beaver Tail House. The bottom beaver seen here can be identified by the cross hatched black tail. The face at the bottom of the pole symbolizes the fourth group, the Giant Rock Oyster House.<br /> <br /> The second purpose of this pole is to tell a story - a sad story. Tricia Brown, in her guidebook of Totem Bight, refers to totem poles as "Silent Storytellers." The story behind this pole is how the Giant Rock Oyster house got its name. While searching for devilfish, the figure crouching beside the pole put his hand in a crevice and a giant devilfish grabbed it When his companions were unable to extricate him they went for help, but when they returned the tide had come in and drowned him.
  • Sun and Raven pole, Saxman Village
  • Sun and Raven pole, Saxman Village
  • Abraham Lincoln Pole
  • Seward Pole
  • Nathan Jackson
  • Totem Guard Pole
  • 1308012-051
  • Interior wall carving in Potlach Park near Ketchikan. This magnificent carving is about 10 feet tall, is located in a longhouse and was carved by Brita Alander, a female Haida Native American of the Eagle Clan. Potlach Park is a relatively new totem park. Brita carved many (most?) of the totems and other artwork at Potlach Park.
  • Carving by Brita Alander of a woman crouched next to a bentwood box. Located on the exterior of a longhouse at Potlach Park near Ketchikan.
  • Totem figure at Potlach Park near Ketchikan.
  • This ancient totem pole is on display near the entrance to the Totem Heritage Center in Ketchikan. The Totem Heritage Center is a museum operated by the City of Ketchikan. In addition to displaying ancient totems, it also offers classes in the arts and crafts of the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian cultures.
  • "Honoring Those Who Give" pole
  • "Honoring Those Who Give" Pole
  • Haida Totem Pole
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