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Late 1700s
Archaeological evidence suggests that the West Coast First Nations families were among the first to create totem poles before the arrival of Europeans (Gadacz, 2017). -
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The structure traces back to the late 1700s when European settlers arrived to Canada and wrote of the totem poles. -
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The arrival of Europeans also brought metal tools which helped the First Nations people carve big and bigger totem poles. -
Early 1800s
The oldest known totem pole is from the early 1800s. This is because they are made from wood and often rot in the wet climate that they are carved in. (2016, Hitchcock) -
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During the 1800s, the practice of creating totem poles spread south along the coast into the rest of British Columbia and Washington state. The West Coast First Nations are known to have created the first totem poles. These families include the Haida, Nuxalk (Bella Coola), Kwakwaka’wakw, Tsimshian and Łingít. The Coast Salish people also made carvings out of cedar. (Gadacz, 2017). Carving and designing totem poles became a tradition and symbol of the First Nations culture. -
Mid 1800s
British North America (BNA) Act was passed in 1867, Canada became a country but remained a colony of the British Empire. Section 91(24) provided the Parliament of Canada with exclusive legislative authority of “Indians, and Lands reserved for the Indians.” (Joseph, 2012) -
Late 1800s
There were ceremonies referred to as potlatches whenever new totem poles were raised. This traditional ceremony made totem poles come alive in the First Nations culture. However, these potlatches were made illegal in Canada during the late 1800's. (Free Spirit Gallery, 2018). -
1880
In 1880 Canada made the traditional ceremony of potlatches illegal.
Section 3 of An Act Further to Amend The Indian Act, 1880 made the exercise of these practices a criminal offense: (Joseph, 2012) -
1880-1950
After the law on Potlatch, most Northwest Native tribes stopped making totem poles but still carved small models of poles for tourists. While some tribes continued their ceremony in secret and held underground potlatches. -
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After the law on potlatches was created, totem poles were displaced and appropriated by Europeans, taken away from their homes and brought to museums and parks around the world. Christian missionaries also encouraged the cutting down of totem poles, which they saw as obstacles to converting Indigenous peoples (Gadacz, 2017). -
1921
A now famous underground potlatch took place at Christmas in 1921 in Alert Bay. ‘Namgis Chief Dan Cranmer held a six day potlatch to celebrate a wedding in their tribe. The potlatch was held on Village Island in an effort to keep the activities out from under the nose of the Indian Agents and missionaries. The celebration was detected by police and under the Potlatch Law, 45 people were arrested and charged. (Joseph, 2012) -
1951
the Indian Act was amended the Potlatch Law was deleted. (Joseph , 2012) -
1952
The first legal potlatch was hosted by Chief Mungo Martin in Victoria in 1952. (Joseph , 2012) -
1960s
New poles were commissioned for museums, parks and international exhibits; and in the late 1960s, totem poles were once again being raised at potlatches (Gadacz, 2017). -
1960s- 2000s
The totem pole has continued to be a symbol of survival for the First Nations people. First Nations people have tried to get back what was taken from them. Many Northwest Coast communities have struggled to repatriate totem poles taken from them by colonial forces for sale or display elsewhere. (Gadacz, 2017). -
2006
The First Nations successfully repatriated from a Swedish museum a pole taken in 1929 (Gadacz, 2017). -
Today
Today we admire the beauty and the detail of what these ancient carvers created with nothing more than sharpened stones and cedar tools (Government of Canada, 2016). -
Today
In the last century, traditional pole carving nearly died-out. But today's Indigenous carvers are bringing back the crests and stories of the poles for families and clans to pass along to their future generations. (Government of Canada, 2016). The traditional practice is being brought back into the First Nations culture. -
Today
In recent years many Native organizations have been calling for a return of some of their sacred items, such as masks and regalia, that symbolise their cultural heritage including their totem poles. (Hitchcock, 2016).
