Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1903-01-08
ALASKAN INDIAN T0TEMS
Description and Significance of
These Northern Curios

tlOls TO tuOSe persons WnO NlSlt
Alaska, are the ourios of Indian
handiwork Ornamented and inter
woven with symbolic designs, many
of these are samples of taste and
intelligent handicraft which seems
far beyond the generally accepted
ignorance of the Indians and the
crude conditions of their life. The
work Of many of these productions is
tedious and toilsome, often requiring
weeks of time to complete. OF
paramount interest to visitors are
the totem poles, which are to be seen
in all the Indian towns, bat are most
numerous in their old villages
The geographical distribution of
totemism is very wide Among the
Indians along the coasts of Alaska
and its many islands, totemism is
found in its most primitive form.
The Indians of the interior do not
practice this custom. The word "to-
temism" was first used in 1892 by an
Interpreter, who applied the term
to the practice Of the Indians of the
Northwest, especially in regard to
their belief in animal ancestry. The
Indians rehearse many strange legends,
showing their belief that in olden
times men were as animals and vice
versa, Totemism illustrates, or is
material expression of their belief in
the kinship of men and animals. The
stories related are very old and date
from a period when as the legend
claim, men and animals could under
stand each others language. The
scenes of those stories are laid on the
water or at the waters edge, as all
the Alaskan Indian towns are built
on the shore Legends and historical
events relating to the people and
the vicinity in which they live, are
rehearsed at their foasts and public
gatherings, at which all listen with
the utmost reverence.
A totem is a coat-of-arms. 1t is here.
ditary. All the Indians from Mt. st.
Elias to Puget Sound are divided into
two great totemic groups-the eagle
and the raven. Under these two
heads are numerous sub-totemism.
Those belonging to the eagle are the
brown bear, frog, wolf, dog-fish and
beaver Those adhering to the raven
are the blacktish or killer-whale, owl
and halibut. Totem poles are from
twenty to seventy-five feet high, and
are usually carved from top to bottom
with a succession of neurological
embloms, figures representing fish,
animals birds and people. They al
ways bear most prominently the figure
of the totemic emblem of him in
whose honor, or at whose expense the
pole is erected This is but one of
the figures and the others are a hero
glyphic version of some one or more
ancient NEUROLOGICAL legends and are,
besides, a sort of genealogical record
One Of the many legends, which is of
the frog, runs thus: One day "A boy
was playing near a frog pond, when
I he fell in; the frogs carried him un-
derground to their tribe. They called
the chief, and debated as to what dis
position they would make of the boy.
The chief asked him his name, to
which he replied, "hihich" frog.
The chief then said "that is our
name. " They did not wish to put
to death one who might be some kin
to them, but conveyed him back to
his home. Thus the frog is ever one
Of the legendary saints. The story Of
the raven dates back to the beginning
Of creation, when the waters covered
the deep the beasts the birds and the
silent cities. Each figure or emblem
has its strange story.
While most of the poles are heral.
die, some are but mortuary sticks,
marking the resting place Of the dead,
and representing the totem to which
they belong. These poles often con,
tain cavities in which are placed the
ashes Of an Indian chief.
An Indian degree Of dignity il
judged by the character Of his totem
pole, including the height and amount
Of carving done on it, 1t is usually
erected in front Of the owners house
A Hyda Indian, Of Howkan, was com
pelled by the pressure Of the populai
opinion in his tribe, 10 shorten hi
totem pole, as it was considered
higher than his rank would warrant
It being the oldest pole in town, tn,
missionaries protested against it
mutilation, but all in vain.
The totem governs tho marriag,
relations. 4 man may not marry
woman Of the same totem as himself
but may marry one Of the same tribe
which they usually do. An Indial
will not kill or eat ms totem animal
The Indians have a style OF caryinl
which is peculiarly their own, and j
difficult Of imitation. The Hyda's ar
expert carvers and possess most elab
crate totems. They were the teacher
of other tribes in carving, and for
mcrly did their carving with tool
made by themselves, from stone O
native copper. The large woode
and horn spoons, ladies, and otho
household utensils, are ornamente
with totemic emblems, and thei
p iewelry is nearly covered with thes
figures. Masks, which are worn a
dances, one for each spirit are ais
sEillfully carved. Into their clothin
and blankets are woven, or worke
d with pearl buttons and beads, yariou
mvtbological emblemg Their larl