Totem Panel… legend…

‘Totem’, or ‘The Watcher’… The protector, or ‘watcher’ of the tribe.  Insuring safety, he is always on the top of a Totem Pole!  Here, holding a ‘copper’… which was the means of exchange, thereby insuring the wealth of the tribe and it’s families!

Owl and Frog…  The owl is cunning, fast and ‘sharp’… and he too watches over the tribe. The frog represents fertility, thus insuring the infinite continuation of the tribe.

Wolf and Moon… The wolf is a great hunter, often traveling at night.  He represents the hunters of the tribe.  The moon is symbolic for it’s power of tides, and travel, and of course night hunting.

Eagle and Sun… The eagle too is a powerful symbol, and frequently represented in Native culture.  The sun, however, has supreme power.  It is often also referred to simply  as “the light” to symbolize it’s total importance over life, and all that is connected with it!

Bear and Salmon… The bear of course represents the strength and power of the tribe.  Connected with the salmon, the representation is of the perpetual food supply insuring the long-standing health and strength of the tribe.

Raven and Union Spirit… The raven is the most magical of all Native legends… also know as the ‘trickster’, he is the only creature that can transform to and from both animate and inanimate objects.  He is often credited with the creation of life ( “The Raven Steals the Light”), and here, is holding the Union Spirit.  The Union Spirit represents the joining of two souls as one!  It is surrounded in a ring of light, or ‘life’.

Beaver… The beaver is always found on the bottom of a Totem Pole.  A crafty ‘builder’, he insures shelter for the tribe members!

(click on the small photos to make them bigger)

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