PRINCE RUPERT'S TOTEM POLES Part 1

The Skung Gwaii (Ninstints) Poles

Brought from this abandoned Haida village on the extreme southern end of Haida Gwaii to Rupert in the late 1930s (some sources say 1935, other 1938), the four Ninstints poles are now dispersed around town.

Separated from each other in space, they have also diverged in style as later carvers have re-interpreted the original poles (Composite on right is same pole). Below is a 1901 Newcombe photo of the south end of Skung Gwaii in which all 4 Ninstints poles are visible.

Given these spectacular carvings, Ninstints attracted attention first by scavengers then by serious anthropologists. By 1957 detailed studies were being made, and in 1981 Ninstints became a World Heritage site. Here is a map showing where our poles were originally placed
Prince Rupert is honoured by the presence of these four poles among us.

"Holiest of Holy Places"

Not being an artist nor an art critic what follows is a layman's appreciation and comments upon what George MacDonald of the Museum of Civilization called one of Canada's "holiest of holy places". My excuse for such brashness is the hope others too may see and respect these achievements from another era. Because what is before us in Prince Rupert has already been "made-over" at least twice.

The Anget pole (Images left and right) in Newcombe's 1901 photograph was already beakless.
The earlier restoration added the 'tweety bird' Eagle on the left. Carver William Jeffrey in his 1960s restoration added the 'seagull' eagle on the right. Neither is satisfactory.

Rupert's poles illustrate changes in perceptions about First Nations. The Anget pole reflects era 1920 to 1960s. The earlier restoration work relied upon paint to preserve "pre-historic" totems.
Jeffrey took this much further, using paint to prompt the observer to details the tourist might miss. (Note the reason for these reproductions was tourism not authenticity.) Jeffrey's Anget interpretation on the right improves over the earlier restoration in attractiveness or 'tourist appeal'.
House 13's totem at Hospital lookout does not equal the original pole. While Jeffrey was only looking at a restored pole over 100 years old, we have the advantage of today's media resources.

The Jeffrey reproduction's paint merely trivializes the sculpture details especially the face on Beaver's tail and the "mouse" face w 3 skil potlatch hat above the cormorant figure.
(Note Service Park totem on far left of Newcombe's 1901 photo.)

Common Themes And Narratives

Rupert's four Ninstints poles are closely related conceptually as well as by clan. The sequence of figures is Eagle- Cormorant- X (varies)-and Grizzly at the base.
Between Eagles wings there is usually a face, as there is above Grizzly. These seem to be the narrative elements of the house within the larger clan template. Presumably the X figure (Bear Mother, Hawk, Beaver) defines House lineage but also the smaller faces.
Visually these smaller faces tend to be the details which draw our attention (especially in the Jeffrey poles).

In three of the four poles Grizzly is devouring something (human, seal) which again seems to refer back to the narrative of the intermediary faces.

House 16 (= Civic Centre) is the exception where Grizzly only holds frog, presumable commenting on Bear Mother and supernatural Cubs above.

Other Ninstints Reproductions

At the UBC Anthropology Museum there is a Bill Reid reproduction of House 12's pole. Judging by the size of the house this was a very important household, perhaps the chief on the north end of Ninstints. Interestingly this elaborate pole is one of the few in the village that does not have an Eagle on top

Instead there is Cormorant. And there are only three large figure: Cormorant, Bear Mother and Grizzly.
A quick look at the other end of Ninstints shows mostly Eagles with only one Cormorant.

Note too Reid's interpretation. It is much more "classical" than Jeffrey poles, by the major proponent of that style's revival. But even Reid leaves his stamp on the original design. The black circular eyes are not in the original -- see figure on left.

NorthCoast.Net is currently producing a booklet and "floppy" file with better resolution graphics and more detailed information. If you are interested in obtaining either let us know.