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Saxman Village - Ketchikan, AK

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Sun and Raven pole, Saxman Village
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Sun and Raven pole, Saxman Village

Raven appears at the top of this pole surrounded by a sun halo. His outspread wings are decorated with feathers as well as eyes containing small faces which symbolize his power to change form. On his chest are the three children of the sun visited by Raven during the deluge. The woman below him has raven tracks painted on her face, a tradition of women in the Raven phratry. This pole is a replica of one carved in 1902. The original was repaired and moved to Saxman Village in 1939. It was the first pole in the new park at that time.

Imported 120415Saxman Village Ketchikan Totems

  • Longhouse at entrance to Saxman Village.
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  • This pole serves two purposes.  First, it is a genealogical record of four house groups and serves as a memorial to them.  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 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 />
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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 and tried once again to free him, the tide had come in and drowned him.
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  • Entrance to Saxman Village
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  • Nathan Jackson, internationally known Tsimshian Master Carver, relaxes while working on a pole in the carving shed at Saxman Village near Ketchikan, AK
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  • Sun and Raven pole, Saxman Village
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