Tanu Pole at Kid Park in Prince Rupert

 

The finest pole in PR?

 

Freda Diesing & ? Tait carved it

 

 

 

 

 

See below

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Myth figures

Who are these beings?

Unlike previous local interpretations, I believe these three figures are a composite and take their meaning from each other.

The lower figure is clearly a whale—note the tail flukes.

Most consider the 2nd figure an “owl”. But note the hands—we are dealing with a supernatural being here.

I suggest this is one of the Haida versions of “Thunderbird” and thus the killer whale is the prey for Thunderbird.

That makes the “chief” human face one of the characters from this myth

 

 

The lower figure “bear” has probably been modified from the original—this was an entrance pole and so there would have been an opening to gain access.

 

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