Totem Poles
Totem poles, an art form closely associated with the Native Americans. Totems were erected to commemorate births, deaths, and victories and sometimes to display wealth. A totem can be the symbol of a tribe, clan, family or an individual. Each pole is different and represent human, animal and supernatural images to tell their stories. Totem poles were carved on large trees, usually cedar. There were complex rules and rituals regarding their carvings. These were common in the Indigenous cultures of Pacific Northwest Coast.
