Kwakiutl Totem

Before you stands a monument that will take you back a few centuries. Installed here in 1971, this totem pole commemorates the centennial of British Columbia joining Canada in 1871. It pays tribute to the Kwakiutl, the Indegenous people who used to live here before the Europeans arrived. Anthropologist Franz Boa began studying this community in the early 20th century. The Kwakiutl were the largest in British Columbia, known for their unique lifestyle that no other tribe detains in the world. Even though they were hunter-gatherers, thanks to their privileged location with abundant food, the Kwakiutl spent very little time hunting and berry picking. Instead, they focused on social and material culture placing great importance on both private property and the tradition of gift-giving. One of the tribe’s most distinctive features was its totem pole, similar to the one you have in front of you. These monuments, made of cedar wood, tell the past and legends of this tribe, with only 5,500 members today. Sadly, much of their culture has faded over time, and only 250 individuals still speak their language today. However, many efforts were made to preserve totem poles. Many have been restored or faithfully replicated, ensuring the survival of a culture considered to be one of Canada’s most important First Nations tribe, representing all the country’s aboriginal people. This one was donated to the capital by British Columbia, as an initiative to unite and share.