Totem Poles of the Haida Nation
Folklore of the Totem Pole
Folklore
Folklore defines a group's identity, shared beliefs, values, and traditions. Folklorist Barre Tolkien believes that all folklore participates in a distinctive, dynamic process. This participation includes elements that connect with a group’s past and present in ways that evolve and change. This is done through sharing, communication and performance (Sims & Stephens 2011, 10). The ceremonies and rituals that accompany Haida Totem Pole carving bring to the forefront, many elements of folklore. These include the genres of verbal and material folklore, text, context and rituals.
Verbal Folklore
Verbal folklore includes anything using words or phrases in order to label an activity (Sims & Stephens 2011, 11). Haida Nation story telling through costumed spiritual reenactments, bring past history and adventure together. The Haida acknowledge that, without the plants and animals living among them, they cannot survive. Therefore, they acknowledge their respect through ceremonies, rituals, carvings and potlatches (Stewart 1990, 18).
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Keith Basso, in writing about Apache story telling, stated how oral narratives have the power to establish enduring bonds between individuals and features of the natural landscape (Basso 1984, 23). Although Basso was referring to the Apache Nation’s story telling, the Haida’s belief in their interconnectedness with all living things, expresses similar oral narratives. Narratives that demonstrate the significance of verbal folklore.
Material Folklore
Material folklore includes anything that is tangible and can be touched. Much of material folklore is handcrafted and created by members of a folklore group (Sims & Stephens 2011, 11-13). Haida Totem Poles are perfect representations of material folklore. Most Haida Totem Poles are carved with a crest that represents an animal of significance to the Haida Nation. The Raven, the Grizzly Bear of the Sea, a whale like adaptation of the Grizzly Bear, and after 1833, the Beaver are the major crests used in carving (Barbeau 1944, 54-55). Because the Haida have deep seated beliefs in spirit encounters, many Totem Poles also include carvings that commemorate connections to the supernatural and spirit world (Jessiman 2011, 367).
Folklore Text
Folklore text refers to any meaningful cultural artifact through words, objects, ideas , and behaviors (Sims & Stephens 2011, 19). Totem Poles are meaningful cultural artifacts to the Haida. They represent family lineage, achievements, and rights. They also represent wealth and nobility and can even be used to shame or humiliate others who behave badly (Stewart 1990, 25-27). The carvings themselves weave a text through their representation of spirit encounters, beaver, raven and grizzly of the sea crests. Totem Poles are not considered art. Instead, they are considered a part of the Haida themselves. A first nation elder once described Totem Poles as follows. "They help define who we are...they project the identity of the owner. They are an integral part of us" (Jessiman 2011, 370). Regardless of their origins, Haida Totem Poles remain documented historical monuments with great meaning and cultural identity (Stewart 1990, 25-27).
Folklore Context
Folklore context refers to where and when people interact with folklore. It asks what roles group members play in creating and sharing the text (Sims & Stephens 2011, 21). The ceremonial ritual of carving, raising, and potlatch, brings into context, the folklore of the Haida Nation’s Totem Poles.
Rituals are defined as highly organized and controlled events often meant to indicate or announce membership in a group. Most rituals bring together many types of folklore and rituals are framed, meaning they have an identified beginning and end (Sims & Stephens 2011, 99).
We must be aware that, without the folklore context, what we may consider a ritual or ceremony is really just another 'get together'. So looking closely, the folklore context of the Haida Totem Pole starts with the carving. The carving itself brings material folklore to the ritual while the raising of the Pole and the celebration of the potlatch bring the verbal folklore. The roles of the group members include the Totem Pole carvers, why and for whom the Totem Pole is being carved, those who will participate in the actual raising of the pole and those who will perform and participate in the potlatch ceremony. Therefore, the folklore context and ritual begins when the Totem Pole is carved and ends after the Nation celebrates with the potlatch. This brings the context of the ritual full circle and the Totem Pole’s meaning and cultural identity becomes sealed.
