In shades of teal, red, and black The Kaagwaantaan totem pole is awe-inspiring in front of the mural by Elizabeth Peratrovich that is located in downtown Juneau.
The carving was done by Lingit artist Nicholas Galanin from Sitka, it’s one among 12 totem poles built along the docks downtown. These are part of Kooteeyaa Deiyi, or Totem Pole Trail that the Sealaska Heritage Institute is installing along the waterfront.
span style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”It confirms our place on the ancestral land of our ancestors. It affirms that we’ve always been here” stated Ricardo Worl, communications director for the Sealaska Heritage Institute.
Worl states that in the near future, posters will be placed at each pole, explaining the pole’s purpose and significance. People will also be able to view videos of the poles on the internet. The poles require some context. There are already stories of climbers climbing up one of them to take pictures.
It’s a span style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”We are aware that we’ll need to partner in partnership with our community members to teach all people,” Worl said. “This isn’t Disney Land .”
He intends to have stores in downtown offer pamphlets about these poles and the stories of clans they represent, as well as the artists who created them.
Worl admitted that getting the initial 12 poles in place has been an ebb and flow. The poles were raised on early Saturday morning, shortly prior to the Kooteeyaa Deiyi ceremony.
Another 18 poles are in the works. There isn’t an established date. Worl confirmed that it would likely be a long-term process.
“span style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”I believe there’s such a buzz around the election that we’d like to take advantage of that and keep the momentum going,” the candidate said.
The initial 12 poles were financed by the $2.9 million contribution from Mellon Foundation and featured prominent artists from the Lingit, Haida, and Tsimshian communities.. Worl stated that SHI is in talks with the Alaskan congressional delegation regarding potential federal funding for further totem poles.
