Totem Collection
The City of Totems, as Duncan is known, is an on-going project that has developed one of the world’s largest, outdoor collection of publicly displayed totem poles. The project began in 1985 and was designed to attract visitors to Duncan. It has involved the enthusiasm and support of many talented individuals and organizations and has cultivated cross-cultural appreciation and cooperation. In 2012, the centenary of Duncan provided an opportunity for the City to develop dedicated signage for the totem pole collection. Oral histories undertaken with the carvers and their families tell the stories depicted on the poles, which are on view throughout the downtown core.
Totem Pole Artists
Hwunu’metse’ (Simon Charlie)
Cedar Woman and Man
Pole of Wealth
Mortuary Pole
Protest Pole
Doug LaFortune (aka. William Horne)
Family Pole
Wind Spirit
Raven’s Gift
The Feast
Provincial Route of the Totems Salish Bear Pole
Yutxwam (Harold Joe)
The Air and the Land
Khut-Whee-Mul-Uhk (Francis Horne Sr.)
Chief’s Pole
Eagle Pole
The Guardians
The Family
Owl Pole
KETÍWŦEL (Tom La Fortune)
Owl Spirit
Harvest Time
Si-yaaxultun (Donald [Don] Smith)
Abolishment Pole
The Fisherman’s Pole
Raven Stealing the Sun
Hokwawadi (Oscar Matilpi)
Dzunuk’wa
Glen Edwards, Andrew Edwards, Herb Rice
Transformation of Man
Gwe-la-y-gwe-la-gya-les (Richard Hunt)
Cedar Man Walking out of the Log
Kwagu’ł Bear holding a Seal
Haeklas (Basil James)
The Gwa’yasdams Flood Story
Leonard Paquette Jackson
Eagle, Raven, Bear
Human Between Bear’s Ears
Moopin’kim (Ned Matilpi)
Thunderbird with Dzunuk’wa
Harold Alfred
Sea and Sky
Cicero August
The Friendship Pole
Chieft Swaletthul’t’hw (Harvey Alphonse) and Nelson Canute
Transformation in Life
The Tzinquaw Story
Laverne Roy “Corky” Baines
Transformation
Rick Hansen Man in Motion Totem
Norman John
Pole of Wealth
Peaceful Boundaries
David Marston
Transition
Kwátám-us (Richard Krentz)
Bringing Light to the World
Tupari TeWhata
PouPou Tane Hiira, Pou Karanga
Kwagu’ł Chief Tlasutiwalis (Calvin Hunt)
Centennial Pole
Tommy Hunt Jr.
Clan Totem of our Nations
