Alaska's totem poles

Summary: Alaska is home to some of the world's oldest totem poles. Once craved to signify family and rank to others in the community, they now express the pride and identity of First Nations people. In Alaska's Totem Poles, Pat Kramer writes that they are North Americas' most unique contribution to the world of aboriginal art. She provides information on the history of totem poles, the legends that inspire them, and the customs and ceremonies that surround carving and erecting totem poles. Readers will also meet the carvers of past and present and learn where they can see famous totem poles.

Record details

ISBN: 9780882405858
ISBN: 0882405853
Physical Description: 94, [2] pages : illustrations (some color), color map ; 22 cm
print
Publisher: Anchorage : Alaska Northwest Books, ©2004.

Content descriptions

Bibliography, etc. Note:

Includes bibliographical references (page 95) and index.

Formatted Contents Note:

Introduction to Alaska's totems: Totem people -- Importance of cedar -- Carving a totem pole -- Early totem sightings -- Golden age of totem poles -- Devastating changes -- Symbol of the Pacific Northwest -- Totem traditions: Pacific Northwest Coast Indian Society -- Traditional potlatch -- Harvesting decayed totems -- Totem renaissance -- Tradition evolves -- Totem crest figures: Carving styles -- Color on totems -- Totem realities -- Totem crests -- Frequently asked questions about totem poles -- Visiting Alaska's totem poles: Anchorage -- Angoon -- Fairbanks -- Hoonah -- Juneau -- Kake -- Ketchikan -- Klukwan and Haines -- Metlakatla -- Prince of Wales Island -- Seattle, Washington -- Sitka -- Wrangel -- Further reading -- Index.