Today I thought I’d give you a closer look at the new totem pole donated by the Jamestown S’Klallam tribe to the City of Sequim for our new Civic Center plaza. Carved by the tribe’s master carver, Dale Faulstich, it was blessed last month at the dedication of the City Hall.
This shot shows the first figure at the bottom of the pole. In Salish culture totem poles are used for many reasons. They can commemorate family and community history and convey the folklore of religious and cultural beliefs.
This is the middle section of the new pole. This pole depicts a story of brothers who became the Sun and Moon and the maidens they married. In the story they slay the Chief Above to bring light to the land.
This is the top of the pole. Old growth Western Red Cedars are carefully harvested to create totem poles. The trees are typically 500 to 900 years old, taken from the Hoh Rain Forest on the western Olympic Peninsula.
Amazing all the way around.
That’s a beauty. What a treasure for your city! Such fantastic carving. I don’t think you’d find this in Florida. Basically, as you suggest, Florida is for the birds! 🙂
Beautiful colours! We have a common theme today.
It’s a beauty!
Love all the colours and it’s obvious that the maker is an extremely gifted carver!
It is a handsome work. It will probably be a source of pride for Sequimites in the years to come.
Handsome, beautiful, and awesome are not quite able nor sufficient to describe this remarkable totem!