*** About Totem Poles: Totem poles, prominently featured in this image, are monumental sculptures carved on poles, posts, or pillars with symbols or figures made from large trees by Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast of North America, including British Columbia. The figures on these poles are richly symbolic, representing ancestral beings, cultural beliefs, or clan lineage. These sculptures are not just art; they are storybooks, capturing the spiritual essence and histories of the people who carved them. Traditionally, the creation and erection of a totem pole is accompanied by ceremonies and potlatches, where stories and rights are passed from one generation to the next, thus deepening the communal memory and continuity of the culture.

Image ID: 37323