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TOTEM POLESA NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY
TOTEM POLES – WHAT ARE THEY?
A series of stacked figures
carved out of a tall tree &
painted to resemble people,
animals, of spirits
Carved by Native American
tribes of the Pacific North-West
Holds spiritual significance &
watched over the community
TOTEMS
TOTEM: is a symbol, figure, or emblem, such
as an animal, person, or creature
Believed to have spiritual significance , but
WAS NOT worshiped
Watches over family / tribe like a guardian
Derived from the ojjbwe word “odoodem”
meaning “kinship group”
TOTEM POLE CARVING
Native Americans would carve large / tall trees into
poles of stacked figures & faces; carving is then
painted with natural paints.
Very expensive & only the rich / powerful had means
to have them made by a skilled knowledgeable
craftsman & would take between 3 months & 2 years
Made of wood & would decay over time or catch fire
Now an artifact on an obsolete people
TOTEM POLE TYPES / PURPOSES
Legend - To record a supernatural encounter & / or
tell a story
Historic - To record the history of clans or families
Celebratory - To symbolize the great ceremonies &
celebrations of the tribe
Memorial - To commemorate great losses to tribe &
for the deceased to mark graves
TOTEM POLE TYPES / PURPOSED CONTINUED
Portal or Entryway - To protect the door & identify
the owner and family of the house
Ridicule or Shame - symbolic reminders of debts,
quarrels, murders, and other objectionable
occurrences as a reminder to the people
Indoor House - supported the roof and bore
emblems of the clan
Welcoming - situated on waterfronts & main routes,
identifying of surrounding areas
SYMBOLISM
Each clan / tribe had unique symbolism &
interpretation requires knowledge of the customs,
traditions, and history
All colors and figures have meaning
All animals, figures, & spirits have meaning
The order can represent a hierarchy or a sequence
of time
When combined, all of these elements tell a story,
legend or myth
NATIVE AMERICAN MYTHS LEGENDS
There are hundreds of mythical creatures in Native
American folklore
Wendigo – Horned monster that eats people &
turns them into a heart of ice for their sins
Sasquatch – A hairy wild ape man, shy & benign.
Mermaids – Half human / half fish sea dwelling
creatures, generally harmless
TEXTURED TOTEM POLE PROJECT
• CREATE A TOTEM POLE BY FORMING A CARDBOARD BOX
• CONVEY REALISTIC TEXTURE THOUGH LINES & ASSEMBLAGE
• DECORATE WITH SYMBOLIC DESIGNS, ANIMALS, & COLORS USING
MATERIALS AT HAND
• DEPICT AT LEAST 1 HUMANOID FACE & 1 ANIMAL FACE TO TELL A STORY
THROUGH SYMBOLIC REPRESENTATION
• REFLECT ON PERSONAL ARTISTIC CHOICES & CONNECT WITH NATIVE
AMERICAN TRIBES THROUGH WRITTEN ARTIST STATEMENT
OBJECTIVES: SWBAT / I CAN: …
PLANNING - BRAINSTORM & SKETCH
Sketch the 4 sides of your totem pole
Add color & texture to all 4 sides
Explain how color & animal choices tell a
story about yourself
Remember you must have at least 1
humanoid face & 1 animal face!
TOTEM POLE - CONSTRUCTION
Measure four 5in. squares in a row
+ 1in. tab (for gluing)
Measure one 5in. square on second row
+ 1in. tab (for gluing)
Label with an X (you will not use this side)
You may add the 6th side to make a full cube if you want (not required)
Score, fold, & glue box together
? HUMAN
FACE
? ANIMAL
FACE
1”
T
A
B
5” x 5”
SQUARE
1” TAB
TOTEM POLE – DESIGNING THE SIDES
Based on your sketches
begin drawing on your
sides
Make sure faces are
across from each other
Think about the materials
at hand & how you can
create your totems &
how you can create
realistic texture
Create your sides
Cardboard
Constriction Paper
Paint
Hot Glue / Stick Tack
Colored Utensils
Craft Supplies
Found Objects
ARTIST’S STATEMENT TOTEM POLES
RESPOND TO THE FOLLOWING USING COMPLETE SENTENCES. CITE VISUAL EVIDENCE FROM YOUR ARTWORK & MAKE
CONNECTIONS TO WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT TOTEM POLES. BE SPECIFIC & USE YOUR ART VOCABULARY.
• DESCRIBE THE DESIGN FEATURES OF EACH SIDE OF YOUR TOTEM POLE (WHAT IS ON EACH SIDE?)
• EXPLAIN THE SYMBOLISM OF THE COLOR & ANIMAL CHOICES ON YOUR TOTEM POLE
• DESCRIBE THE TEXTURES YOU USED, WHERE THEY ARE, & HOW YOU CREATED THEM
• RELATE YOUR ARTISTIC CHOICES TO THE STORY YOUR TOTEM POLE TELLS ABOUT YOURSELF