Attention: this is very old content, revived mostly for historical interest. Many of the pages on this site are still useful, but please bear in mind that they may be out of date. (Especially, do not try to use contact information, phone numbers, etc. found on these pages unless you couldn't find anything more recent.)
See here for more information.

Note: The legends accompanying the totem poles on this page are the sole property of individual Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs. Out of respect for our chiefs we are only publishing enough of the stories to give you some insight into our heritage. The images and stories are for your enjoyment and not for reproduction. Thank you for your respect.

 

The Totem Poles of Gitanyow

"HOLE IN THE ICE"

The figures on this pole are: Migrating Wolf with it's head upwards, it's tail turned back, and it's jaw resting on it's shoulder blade; { } , a member of this clan, taken away by a wolf, whose tail he holds in his hands; the Prince of Bears with his stomach split open and entrails falling out and being bitten by the Wolf; and the Hole, with twelve small human-like beings standing around it. This pole is also known as "Hole in the Sky"

 

"FROG HANGING"

The upper half of the pole is uncarved. The figures in the lower half include a hanging frog, Starfish-person, the Eagle (represented with a bird's head), a human body with wings outlined under the arms and a crown of grizzly claws. These crests were claimed when the chief discovered, in a lake, a large human being with an eagle-like head and a headdress crowned with grizzly claws.

 

"DRIFTED ASIDE"

The name of this figure is Drifted Aside, named after a historical Gitanyow ancestor. Standing on top of the figure's head is a pearled Raven. In his hands is what used to be a pearled Bow. The story of Drifted Aside is that he took his pearled bow and killed a monster appearing out of a lake.

 

 

 

"HOUSE OF GAMLAXYELTXW AND SINDIHL"

Before settling in Gitanyow, the House of Gamlaxyeltxw and Sindihl lived at the headwaters of the Skeena River. They moved to many different places along the Nass River before joining Chief Gwass Hlaam and the others at Gitanyow. Among these places were Anx 'ts 'milx na gits (Wolverine River), Aks naa gyelga (Waters of Gyelga), and Gitkse 'tsuutsxw (Place of the Seagull Hunter). While traveling through these places, they were at the same time making maps of the land they claimed and were also establishing their authority over their newly owned land. There are now three Totem Poles that relate the history of this house while the house was still under the Nomadic status of years ago. These poles include: "Ravens Nest," "People of the Smoke-hole," and "Headdress of the Upper River."

 

"SKIMSIN"

This Totem Pole bears the name of Mountain-Eagle or Thunderbird. It represents the same mythic adventures and emblems: Mountain-eagle on top; tsewiladaw, the mythic ancestress with a child in her arms; four of her children; and a large-nosed person. The story attached is of a young woman who was taken away by Mountain-eagle, who made her his mate. When she returned to her village, she related the experience to her relatives and they commemorated it by means of a carving.

 

 

"SPLIT PERSON"

The figures on the upper half of the pole are double-headed or split-person, with two complete human beings on his head, headdress or mask. The lower carvings represent the same characters, but the human figures on the head of Split-Person are larger and each holds a child in his arms. As explained by elders, "One man with two heads. One body, one stomach, and the bowels of one, for the two-headed person."

 

 

"PEOPLE OF THE SMOKE HOLE"

The figures on this Totem Pole are of seven human-like representations, all of the same family crest. The figure at the top is slightly smaller than the three below. Immediately above the lower figure are three figures of the same description. the positions of the limbs, especially the hands, differ slightly. All of these figures illustrate episodes in the lives of Gamlaxyeltxw's ancestors while they were still among the ancient nomadic tribe of the Tsetsaut.

 

LOWERING THE RAVEN POLE

This sequence of photos shows the Raven Pole being lowered to the ground. The pole will be replaced with a new one carved on site.

 

 

 

 

"High Rigging" in preparation to lower the Raven Pole.

 

 

 

 

 

The whole community participates in helping down the Raven Pole.

Here, community members hold the guy lines with which the pole is lowered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chief Sindihl presides over the downed Raven Pole. The Raven Pole will be recarved at a later date.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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modified May 7th, 2002