Ksan Historical Village

Totem poles are read from the solid base at the bottom to the top figure, as it points skyward .

Entrance Poles

Entrance Poles to the village: Located at the parking lot entrance, each pole carries figures of people and creatures found in Gitxsan histories. At the top is Eagle, a clan of the area, followed by Frog whose hind legs form the ears of Hawk, a mythical bird having a sharply curved beak as well as a mouth with teeth. The next figure is that of a chief, holding a staff, and below him is Beaver, holding a chewing stick. Beavers cross-hatched tail is seen having a small face appear at the joint.

Pole of the Silkscreen Studio

The Bear Mother

Frog
"Lax See'l"

Wolf
"Lax Gibuu"

Fireweed
"Gisk'aast"

Eagle
"Lax Skiik"

The Bear Mother

This pole is topped by one of the brothers within the story of the Bear Mother, with his abducted woman peering over his knees. The next two figures represent the Bear Mother and her Bear Husband, and the design includes three small cubs instead of the traditional two. A small Frog is seen peeking out beneath Bear's paws.

Dog Salmon Pole

"Person with a fish spear" stands on the tail of a Dog Salmon. The salmon's tail emerges out of the persons head. "Split-Person" resides at the center point, holding onto the fin of a second Dog Salmon, with his head in the mouth of the first salmon. The Dog Salmon Pole, some 38 ft. in length, was erected about 1860 in memory of a Chief Tewalas of the Eagle phratry of Gitwangax. The original pole is preserved in the Natural Museum of Man in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

The Meeting Place

This pole was raised to commemorate the opening of the village on the 12th of August, 1970. Standing at attention at the top of the pole is a white man, a B.C. Government representative, complete with top hat and bow tie. Beneath the man is Eagle and below is a crouched Wolf, representing the Wolf Clan. At the base is a crest of the dominant Fireweed Clan: Mosquito transforming into a human, wings becoming arms and human legs in development. A small Frog rests on Mosquito's forehead, a part of the legend.

Entrance Pole to the Wolf House

This represents the Wolf and Bear crests of the Wolf Clan.

The top figure on the totem pole is not the most important, it is the figure on the bottom that carries the most weight.

Totem Poles of 'Ksan Historical Village

Entrance Poles

Pole of the Silkscreen Studio

The Bear Mother

Dog Salmon Pole

The Meeting Place

Entrance Pole to the Wolf House