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Restoration Movements for Totem Poles |
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In the twentieth and twenty first century there have been many efforts to restore or recreate ancient totem poles. This project is a part of a larger campaign to revitalize First Nations culture and pride. By reintroducing aboriginal art, society becomes more educated, and aware of the First Nations culture and history. Bill Reid, Norman Tait, Mungo Martin and Charles Edenshaw, are examples of modern totem pole artists whose work is very influential in the movement towards revitalization of their culture, (Halpin, 1981). Museums, such as the Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture in Washington, have created exhibits attempting to explore the history, mythology and beauty of totem poles. The B.C. Royal Museum also has exhibits, in an attempt to educate the public on a very important part of B.C.’s history. At times, however, the European way of attempting to promote totem poles, is over zealous, and overlooks the original intent. By taking poles, from their original placement, and bringing to museums, or as is illustrated in Indian New Deal, placed in parks (Jonaitis, 1989), Caucasians are taking the totem poles out of the hands, and the control of the original owners, and deciding for themselves how they would best be displayed, if this continues to be the way that First Nations culture is “revitalized” the efforts will continue to be futile. Their have been occasions where totem poles have been restored, at their original site, thirty totem poles along the Skeena river were restored or recreated by the federal government and the Canadian National Railway, this too, however, was mainly aimed at the tourism along the railway, then about the actual culture (Darling, Cole, 1980).
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