Back again at the 7 Cedars Casino, the first totem, above, is in a style from the Kwakwaka’wakw people of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. It is a representation of the supernatural world and shows each major realm of nature: the Forest World, the Sky World, and the Undersea World.
The forms on the totem pole above represent natural phenomena in human-like shapes. They are carved in the Tlingit style of northern British Columbia. The bottom figure on this pole is Fog Woman who can both help and harm coastal peoples. Fog Woman can conceal people from enemies or hide hunters as they approach prey. Her nasty side can disorient people and cause them to get lost, sometimes permanently.
Although totem poles can be viewed in some museum and preserved settings, those created for the S’Klallam Tribe are contemporary. They have been created in the past 20 years by living artists using traditional styles, forms, and legends. The S’Klallam peoples are a current, living culture.
Tomorrow: A look at carvings at the S’Klallam Tribal Center.
Thanks for the identification of the eagle yesterday, Kay!
These photos descriptionds are wonderful! I love knowing so much more about them.
Fog Woman is surely a very powerful entity. 🙂
I think that I would try very hard to get on the good side of Fog Woman. Seeing the totem in its fullness is helpful, but I love the close-up so I can examine each section and then understand your explanation more clearly. Great artwork and thanks for all the totem photos!