Totem Poles

Paper Summary:

This paper researches and writes about the building of totem poles as a spiritual, multicultural art form. Specifically, it looks at the recent totem poles carved by Jewell Praying Wolf James from the Lummi Native American Nation. It also discusses the tradition of totem poles and how their use and meaning may have changed in Native-American culture from the late 18th century to present day.

From the Paper:

"Despite the long and important tradition of totems and the celebrations relating to them (called potlashes), they have experienced great challenges and setbacks in the past centuries. In Canada, the Indian Act of 1876 made potlatching and other Native customs illegal. Many consider that the Indian Act destroyed tribal life in Canadian Native Americans, and it certainly had an impact of native culture and art; totem poles and other art was destroyed or confiscated, and people violating the laws were imprisoned or fined heavily. In both Canada and the United States, the abuse of Native Americans and their lack of rights under the American and Canadian governments resulted in mass export of their art, if it was not destroyed (Malin 167-68). "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Briggs, Kara. "Healing Gifts to Nation." One Sky Center website. 3 September 2004. 26 March 2006 <http://www.oneskycenter.org/news/news/NewsView.cfm?newsID=14>.
• James, Jewell. "The Lummi Healing Poles." 23 October 2004. 27 March 2006 <http://www.lummihealingpole.org/>.
• James, Jewell Praying Wolf and Cooper, Kenneth. Interview with Kari Berger. "The Native Americans' Age-Old Spiritual Ties with Nature Endure." Earth & Spirit 24 (1990): 50. 26 March 2006 <http://www.context.org/ICLIB/IC24/Berger.htm>.
• Lippard, Lucy. Mixed Blessings: New Art in a Multicultural America. New York: New Press, 2000.
• Malin, Edward. Totem Poles of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Portland, OR: Timber Press, 1986.

More papers on Totem Poles:

• Research Paper # 91916 : "Native-American Totem Poles "
• Descriptive Essay # 110278 : "Indian Style Totems"

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