Story Poles
About Our Story Poles
Story poles, also called Totems, are wood carved monuments created by First Nations and Indigenous peoples in the coastal areas of the Pacific Northwest. They serve their people as a means of passing down stories and tribal history to the next generation of tribal or family members.
Totems are also used as symbols for Native American tribes and families. They are a record of the accomplishments and successes of that family or tribe. Totems were also erected to honor a relative who has died, to record an encounter with a supernatural personage, or to respect a chief or personage who put on an extraordinary potlatch, according to the former Chairman of the Steilacoom Tribe, Danny Marshall. Totems are more than art on our campus; they are a part of the people at Pierce College.
The poles originated in the village of Gitanyow (formerly called Kitwankul) in British Columbia, Canada. Harry Oda, a former Pierce College student and part time faculty, began carving them in 1960, but was unable to finish. The poles on our campus were carved for Pierce College, but a matching set can be found in British Columbia.
The totem poles were brought to the Pierce College international house in 1976 by Dale McGuiness, a former Pierce College Anthropology instructor. It was then that Fred Lauth volunteered to complete and refurbish them. The refurbishment was completed “near fall quarter.”
Traditional methods would have used materials like chalk, salmon eggs and copper ore to create paints; however, Lauth used some acrylic paints in his restoration. Unfortunately, while he could read the symbols, Lauth could not read the story of these totems. Story poles are not like traditional books to be read, as the reader must have the knowledge of what to look for when interpreting the carvings.
All three story poles at Pierce College are carved from Cedar – a vitally important tree to the lives and culture of indigenous peoples of the Northwest. It has historically been used to make clothing, ceremonial masks, story poles and storage chests.
The story poles were rededicated in 1982 with a ceremony that opened with a smudging by Larry Pierce, former Director of Student Services at Pierce College. The ceremony also included a potlatch fable shared by Danny Marshall and a demonstration of dances and songs including the “coming into the house” song and the “welcome” song.
Today, the story poles are a living reminder of the rich history of the land Pierce College stands on.
Raven
Depicted in front of the Sunrise building is Raven. Raven did much good for indigenous peoples such as fetching the sun and the moon to give light and warmth to them, but he can also be considered a trickster.
Frog and Bear
Depicted in front of the International House are the Frog and Bear Totems, both topped by Thunderbird. Thunderbirds were considered by indigenous peoples to be the Lords of the Sky Realm. They could make themselves invisible or become fierce winds. They would also often battle each other in the sky, causing severe thunder and lightning. Occasionally, Thunderbirds would attend human ceremonies disguised as Eagle Chieftains.
Bears were also known to attend human ceremonies where thick bear skin clothes and walking with a lumbering gate. Frog is associated with great fortune. Frog is a close friend of Copperwoman who lives in an undersea realm. If Frog is insulted, Copperwoman will cause volcanic eruptions.