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Sitka National Historical Park, AK

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Gaanaxadi/Raven Crest Pole
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Gaanaxadi/Raven Crest Pole

The meaning of this pole is not clear. According to the guidebook of the Sitka National Historical Park (Carved History") it is not clear whether it is a story pole or a crest pole and goes on to comment that the "top figure is probably Raven holding a crescent moon, although changes in the wings and disappearance of the wings (in copies of the pole) have led some to identify the carving as an owl." Some say that the whale near the bottom of the pole was meant to illustrate the legendy of the raven and the whale, a legend in which a raven became trapped inside a whale, began eating the whale, and the whale became beached.

Imported 120415Sitka Totems

  • Pole located near the entrance to Sitka National Historical Park.
  • Pole carved by Tlingit Tommy Joseph in 1999 to commemorate Chief K'aylaan, leader of the  Tlingits, in the Tlingit/Russian battle in 1804.  The pole is located on the site of the battleground where the last major Native resistance to Russian dominance took place.  The black raven's head at the bottom of the pole represents the helmet worn by the chief in that battle.
  • Yaadaas Crest Corner Pole
  • 0706019-083-Edit
  • 0706019-096
  • Gaanaxadi/Raven Crest Pole
  • 0706020-001
  • Yaadas Crest corner pole
  • Yaadaas Crest corner pole
  • Yaadaas Crest corner pole
  • Gaanaxad/Raven Pole in Sitka
  • Detail from center of Mosquito Legend pole.  The figure below this one is probably an octopus recognizable by the suction cups which appear to serve as a collar for this figure. See also imager #0706021-196
  • Detail from center of Mosquito Legend pole.  The figure below this one is probably an octopus recognizable by the suction cups which appear to serve as a collar for this figure. See also imager #0706021-196
  • 0706020-073-Edit-Edit-Edit
  • 0706020-073-Edit-Edit
  • Center of a pole carved by Tlingit Tommy Joseph in 1999 to commemorate Chief K'aylaan, leader of the  Tlingits, in the Tlingit/Russian battle in 1804.  The pole is located on the site of the battle where the last major resistance of Native Americans to Russian dominance took place.  The black raven's head at the bottom of the pole represents the helmet worn by the chief in that battle.
  • Pole carved by Tlingit Tommy Joseph in 1999 to commemorate Chief K'aylaan, leader of the  Tlingits, in the Tlingit/Russian battle in 1804.  The pole is located on the site of the battleground where the last major Native resistance to Russian dominance took place.  The black raven's head at the bottom of the pole represents the helmet worn by the chief in that battle.
  • Gaanaxadi/Raven Crest Pole
  • 0706020-087
  • This pole is located in Sitka National Historical Park but I don't know its name or background.
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