Terrific Totem Poles Trivia Quiz

Answer: Both of these

Most typically, totem poles are a way to represent the historical legends of the people carving them. Totem poles are used as a way to record clan history or important events. Totem poles are also erected to welcome visitors to villages, to honour deceased relatives, and even as a public way to make fun of someone in the community. Shaming poles are erected as a record of a person who has done something for which they should be ashamed. One example of a shaming totem pole can be found in Cordova, Alaska.

It has a distorted face of former Exxon CEO Lee Raymond because of the unpaid $5 billion debt that the company owed after the oil spill from the Exxon Valdez ship.

Answer: False

Totem poles are usually celebrated when they are erected, but are then not well-maintained. As a result, they typically last for less than 100 years. As the wood in the pole rots, it will begin to lean over. If it becomes a danger, it will be destroyed or removed. If a pole collapses, it may be replaced with a new pole.

Answer: Black, red, white, yellow, green, and blue

Colours used on totem poles have deep meanings to the people who carve them. Red is the colour of blood and represents war or valour. Blue represents the sky and the water. White represents spacious heavens. Yellow represents the sun, which brings light and happiness. Green is the earth, and black represents power. Different indigenous clans will use varying amounts of these colours on their totem poles.

Answer: Over 150 feet (45 metres)

There is one totem pole in Alert, British Columbia, that measures 173 feet (53 metres). It is made of a few logs fastened together. There is a pole in McKinleyville, California, that is 160 feet (49 metres) tall. It was carved from a single log. Extremely tall totem poles that are made from a single log are becoming less common as it becomes more difficult to find suitable extremely tall trees that have not fallen to logging.

Answer: Cedar

Cedar is naturally rot-resistant and straight-grained. Because of this, the western red cedar is usually chosen for totem poles. After the tree is chosen, most indigenous communities perform a ceremony of gratitude and respect in honour of the tree. It is then cut down and moved to the carving location.

Answer: 6

The original totem poles were created by only six nations of the western part of North America. These include the Haida, the Nuxalt, the Kwakwaka'wakw, the Tlingit, the Tsimshian, and the Coast Salish people. All of these communities are found in the northwestern US, British Columbia, Yukon Territory, and Alaska. the tradition of creating totem poles has since spread to be practiced by other indigenous nations.

Answer: False

Totem poles have a wide variety of animals represented. These include the wolf, the eagle, the grizzly bear, the thunderbird, the killer whale, the frog, the raven, and the salmon. Animals on totem poles typically represent the emblems of the clan, or family group in whose honour the pole is carved.

It is believed that animals have spiritual significance and act as guardian spirits or helpers.

Answer: Stone, shell, or bone

Iron was introduced in the 1700s. This allowed for chisels, knives, and other tools to be created. Before that, indigenous carvers used sharp tools that were available to them. Those in coastal areas likely used shells more often than those away from the coast, but all tools must have been sharp.

When poles were first carved, it is likely that the design was painted on the pole to guide the carver. Today, designs are placed on paper and used as outlines. Another advent in relatively recent times is the chain saw. Designs are now typically rough cut using a chain saw before finishing with hand tools.

Answer: Wherever the indigenous community approves

Totem poles are still erected in the 21st century. Because of their cultural significance, the local indigenous community needs to be consulted when totem poles are created if they are to be installed on land that does not belong to the community. Many government buildings, libraries, museums, and schools will often commission totem poles for installment on their land as a way of paying respect to the First Peoples of the land.This photo is of a totem pole at the public library in Haynes, Alaska.

The carver placed this figure near the top of the pole that is holding a book in honour of the location of the pole. The title of the book that is painted on is "Totem Carving for Dummies", the carver's way of letting humour shine through on this pole.

Answer: It comes from from the Algonquian word "odoodem".

The word totem comes from the Algonquian word "odoodem", meaning "his kinship group". This likely refers to the fact that, although there were some other meanings such as welcoming visitors, most totem poles were typically carved to honour one clan or family. The poles that were carved for clans represent ancestors, family legends, and special events in the history of the clan.