Alaska is known for its majestic mountains, diverse wildlife, sparkling waters, charming towns, and wonderful people. 

But nothing is more symbolic of "The Last Frontier's” cultural heritage than the towering Native American Totem Pole.

Totem poles are emblematic pieces of Northwest Coast art created by the First Nations or the native people of the Pacific Northwest coast in British Columbia and Southeastern Alaska. These majestic pieces are stately, soaring, carved representations celebrating significant people, history, places, and things in Alaska Native tribal culture.

The word "totem” is a reference to a guardian, ancestral being, or another supernatural being, but totem pole symbolism also serves as a reminder of significant events in the lives of the people from the coastal Pacific Northwest. The Native Alaskan tribe known as the Tlingit calls the totem pole "kooteeyaa,” meaning "people of the other side.”

The Native Alaska Totem Pole is a colossal presence in Alaska's coastal areas. Each pole is unique and tells its own story, commemorating tribal legends, myths, and family stories with most totem poles carved out from a western red cedar log.

The Six Types Of Native Alaskan Totem Poles 

Totem poles are considered sacred but are not considered a religious symbol by indigenous peoples. These magnificent works of art can represent events like births, deaths, marriages, people, animals, and spirits. 

There are at least six different kinds of this traditional art, each with a different cultural significance.

The Shame Pole, for example, targets weak leaders and those who fail to fulfill an obligation or repay a debt. Quarrels, murders, and other nasty acts and occurrences are also immortalized on the Shame Pole. An example includes the Seward Pole in Saxman Village which is located in Ketchikan Alaska and has one of the largest collections of Native American totem poles. 

Imagine the ridicule and chagrin you would feel if your indiscretion was memorialized on a 70-to-100 ft. structure that will last 60, 80, and even in rare cases, 100 years.

The Five Other Types Of Native Alaskan Totem Poles That Are Far Less Onerous But No Less Compelling Are: 

The Lineage Pole, or Entrance Pole, displays family and tribal history, not to mention social status. The Lineage Pole also allows the identification of friends and foes. The poles have often been used to support large rafters inside and outside a house.

• The memorial poles or mortuary poles, commemorates the life of important elders or tribe members.
• The Native Legend and Story Pole. Since there is often no written language, Native Legend Poles are used to symbolize essential legends and stories.
• The Commemorative Pole. Otherwise known as the "potlatch pole,” this structure celebrates festivals and special events. These poles are usually the largest.
• The Mortuary or Grave Marker Pole. These poles are hollowed out in the back to hold the remains of the deceased. 

What Is The Meaning Of A Native Alaskan Totem Pole? 

So, how do you "read” a totem pole?

The answer is a bit complicated. The meaning of a pole is often a mystery to outsiders and is only known to the Native Carver, those who commissioned the pole, and those at the pole raising. But even without knowing the exact meaning, what you have in a totem pole is a dazzling monument full of Native Alaskan art and history as told through totem pole symbols.

Each totem pole is original. Totem pole symbols include images such as ravens, eagles, owls, fish, frogs, beavers, bears, plants, and people. The history of totem poles goes back centuries, but since few totem poles have survived from before 1900, it is difficult to trace their exact historical dating.

The socio-cultural roles of Native Alaska Totem Poles are powerful, and the raising of a pole is usually celebrated with a ceremony and a feast. During the raising ceremony, stories of totem pole symbols, which often include a family crest, are told after the pole is raised.

In other words, a Native Alaska Totem Pole is more than a fancy decoration. It’s a significant signpost of tribal culture.

How Is A Native Alaskan Totem Pole Carved? 

The carving process is pure art since it is always done by hand with no power tools, except for a chain saw used to make the large initial cut of the single log used for the pole. Carvers are trained to create their tools, using tree branches to carve a handle and forged steel to create a blade.

The design of Native Alaskan Totem Poles is usually first sketched on paper to allow the carver to know how tall each figure on the pole should be. The sketch also guides the carver to know how tall the log for the pole should be. Before the carving begins, the red cedar logs used for the poles are stripped of their bark, and the soaproot is removed. Once dry, the log takes on the consistency of balsa wood, making it easier to carve. 

The carver slices and chisel symbols into the wood that might include inanimate objects such as animals or mythological beings and symbols of tribal history. It takes about nine months to complete the pole.

Except for details that bring figures to life, such as ears, eyebrows, lips, and feet, Native Alaskan Totem Poles are never fully painted, largely because of the extensive labor involved with painting. Indeed, to make paint for a totem pole, female members of the tribe chew salmon eggs and spit them into a bowl. After the masticating and spewing, a base for the paint is formed and then mixed with powder to create the four main colors of the poles.

The colors of the totem poles are usually black, coming from charcoal or lignite; red, from iron ore; turquoise from copper oxide; and white from clamshells.

Native carvers are artists who pass their craft down through generations to preserve the enduring and important legacy of Native Alaskan Totem Poles. One of today’s most prominent carvers is Alaska native Nathan Jackson. Jackson, who has been carving for about 60 years, is known worldwide for his carvings in the traditions of the Chilkoot Tlingit tribe.

Here’s Where You Can Find Native Alaskan Totem Poles

You can admire Native Alaskan Totem Poles in most Southeast Alaska communities, including an amazing display at the Sitka National Historical Park and the Totem Bight State Historical Park. 

Other spots to view totem poles include the Alaska State Museum in Juneau, the Totem Heritage Center and the Totem Night State Historical Park in Ketchikan, and the Saxman Totem Park. You can also view Native Alaskan Totem poles at art galleries and other museums across the 49th State.

How Much Does A Native Alaskan Totem Pole Cost?

By now, you probably want to price out a Native Alaskan Totem Pole.

Yes, you do! These full-sized, unique, and decorative Native Alaskan Totem Poles are perfect for private residences, yards, commercial properties, parks, and even school grounds. 

Remember, Native Alaskan original poles involve a great deal of labor and intricate detail, not to mention materials, which make them something of an investment. The average cost of a totem pole is about $2,000 to $3,000 a linear foot, plus the cost of the log. Some can cost as much as $60,000.

If you want to purchase smaller totem poles for inside the home, office, or other pieces of native art, or if you’re planning a trip to Alaska to see the fascinating sights of totem poles, go to Voyij. 

A Native Alaskan Totem Pole is not only a majestic sight; smaller totem poles make great gifts! Or you can reward yourself with an intriguing symbol of Native Alaskan culture.