|
TOTEM POLES Symbols & Stories When you look art a totem pole, what do you see? Most of us see colorful animals or scary monsters. But to Southeastern Alaska natives, each totem pole also tells a story. These stories are told through symbols, which represent things important to the family who had the totem pole carved. Since seafood has always been a big part of the life in Alaska, many totem poles feature symbols of fish. Salmon, for example, represented joy and abundance. Other common symbols include birds, animals and humanlike spirits. Natives also used symbols in masks created for ceremonies and festivals. Simple symbols, written in the sand, were also used as a form of communication and a way to teach stories and legends to children. |
|||||||||
 |
 location //: Little Y //: Alaska //: Totem Poles |