For More Information
Visit the web site of Sitka National Historical Park and take a virtual tour of the park’s totem trail (click on History and Culture, then select totem poles): www.nps.gov/sitk
Visit the web page of the Alaska Native Knowledge Network and learn about Alaska’s Northwest Coast cultures: http://www.ankn.uaf.edu/ANCR/southeast.html
Visit http://rainforests.pwnet.org/index.php to learn about Alaska’s temperate rainforests and how they compare to tropical rainforests.
Visit the Digital Collections of the Alaska State Library and search for photographs of Tlingit and Haida totem poles and villages: http://vilda.alaska.edu/
For more information about Tlingit and Haida history, culture, and languages, visit the Alaskool web site Visit the http://www.alaskool.org/
The book Cedar by Hillary Stewart (University of Washington Press, Seattle, 1984) describes and illustrates the many ways this special wood is used by the Northwest Coast cultures. This book has a great diagram of people raising a totem pole and is relevant for learners of all ages.
The book Looking at Indian Art of the Northwest Coast by Hillary Stewart (University of Washington Press, Seattle, 1979) explains the history and meaning of the distinctive art style known as Northwest coast formline design.
To learn the amazing story of a totem pole that was collected by Governor Brady for Sitka’s park and ended up in an Indiana neighborhood, check out the book: Home Before the Raven Caws: The Mystery of Indiana’s Alaskan Totem Pole by Richard D. Feldman. Published by Guild Press, Emmis Books (2003). Written for upper-elementary/middle-school readers.
References
Carved History: The Totem Poles and Houseposts of Sitka National Historical Park. Published by the Alaska Natural History Association, Anchorage (2000 edition).
The Most Striking of Objects: The Totem Poles of Sitka National Historical Park by Andrew Patrick. Published by the National Park Service: Alaska Support Office (Anchorage) and Sitka National Historical Park (2002).
Early Views: Historical Vignettes of Sitka National Historical Park by Kristen Griffin. National Park Service: Alaska Support Office (Anchorage) and Sitka National historical Park (2000).
Gunalcheesh! (Thank You!)
Thanks to Tommy Joseph, Tlingit woodcarver at the Southeast Alaska Indian Cultural Center and member of the Kaagwaantaan clan, for providing information about and examples of Tlingit art, wood carving and totem poles.
Thanks to Roby Littlefield, Tlingit language and culture educator, and Kassandra Eubank, Tlingit language and culture student, for helping with the Tlingit word list and recording the pronunciation of the words. Both Roby and Kassandra are members of the Kaagwaantaan clan.
Thanks to the Wolf House of the Kaagwaantaan clan for allowing the use of a photograph of the Panting Wolf totem pole in the park visitor center.
Thanks to Gene Griffin, Chief of Resources at Sitka National Historical Park, for providing information on the history and preservation of the park’s totem poles.
Thanks to the staff and students of Pacific High School in Sitka for allowing the use of their photograph of the school’s 2005 totem pole raising.
Photograph Credits
Sitka National Historical Park Archives:
- E.W. Merrill Collection (SITK #3816, SITK #3754, SITK# 3784).
- Carver Tommy Jimmy carving the Raven-Shark Pole (SITK #942-I).
- Totem pole and Tlingit man in a traditional village (SITK #3825).
Sitka National Historical Park: Contemporary photographs contributed by Dave Curl, Gene Griffin and Lisa Matlock.
Alaska State Library (Juneau), John Brillhart Collection (PCA 295-51)