These totem poles serve as an emblem of the family clan and often are a reminder of their family ancestry. There is only occasional representation of human figures on the totem poles. These representations of human figures are often misinterpreted as high ranking chiefs, or important figures in the tribe. Usually, this human figure is simply a carving of the pole's owner. There are usually no extruding additions, except sometimes a rectangular shape placed at the top of the pole.
Most poles have a cylindrical shape which is carried out through the entire pole.
Most of the figures are human and very realistic. Their totem poles are short compared to other tribes' poles. They contain no paintings and only carvings. There are large extruding additions on the poles, such as arms and harpoons. Because whaling is a major tradition of the tribe, whales are usually represented on their totem poles.