Totem Poles of Haida Indians
Haida Indian Art and Culture Living in the Pacific West, south of Alaska live the Haida Indian tribe, living on the British Isles. The Haida Indians are very unique people, creating their art with an abstract twang added to it. The statue I picked for my project, a totem pole, is an example of one of their pieces of art. The Haidas are famous for their distinctive totem poles. Each of their totem poles has animals represented on them, standing for their mythology. They made these totem poles to represent their ancestors and what animals their character showed. Before diving into their mythology, let me explain the Haida people’s art and its connection to ancestor worship. The Haida people celebrated their ancestors so passionately because it is believed they were supernatural beings who helped create the world. The decorations on their art are a representation of the deceased elders and their social identity (for example if they were brave people, then their art piece might have an eagle pictured in it somewhere). On the particular totem pole I used for my project on it is pictured some animals that are a part of the Haida culture: killer whales, the raven, and monkeys. It makes sense that fish or killer whales would be pictured on any totem pole because of the geography and environment of the Haida people. In one of their mythology stories about the Underwater People, a group called the Sgaana xaaydagaay, or the killer whale people are among the most powerful beings in the sea. Also it is said that ancestors of the Haida were required to wear killer whale skins to be allowed to enter the spirit world where they would have a grand feast with the Sgaana xaaydagaay. The totem pole I used had two what appeared to be small killer whales facing each other near the top of the sculpture. If this sculpture was made for an ancestor, possibly the ancestor was a brave, risk taking man who provided the community with necessities. Also pictured on the totem pole was