Red came from red ochre, a clay-like material. Black was the most common, made by grinding soot, graphite or charcoal. It is said to represent the unpaid debt the oil company owes for damages caused by the oil spill in Valdez, Alaska.Ĭolors used to paint totem poles were limited. A famous shame pole erected in Cordova, Alaska, included the face of an oil company businessman. Shame poles are taken down once the person has made amends.
Shame poles are carved to embarrass and ridicule someone who has done something wrong. Mortuary poles are also raised in honor of the dead and include a small compartment for the ashes of the deceased.Īnother interesting type of totem pole is the shame pole. Memorial poles are carved in honor of a deceased clan member. Genealogy poles are erected in front of a family's home to represent the owner's clan or social status. There are many other types of totem poles. Instead, they represent traits and characteristics each clan or story embodies. These totems are used as a way to record the history and legends of the tribes.įigures on a totem pole are not gods to be worshipped.
On these poles, each figure on the totem represents part of a story. Some totem poles represent stories or important events. Totem poles serve many purposes beyond their beauty, and their meanings are as varied as the cultures that make them. In North America, totem poles are part of the cultures of many indigenous peoples of Alaska, British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest. Totem poles are sculptures carved from large trees, such as the Western Red Cedar.
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