Chief Wakas Pole

In Kwakwaka'wakw (Kwakiutl) ceremonies, carved staffs called talking sticks are held by people making important speeches on behalf of a chief. This pole represents the talking stick and characters in an Owikeno story belonging to Chief Wakas. The original pole was raised in front of Chief Wakas' house in Alert Bay in the 1890s. The raven's beak opened to form a ceremonial entrance to the house, while the raven's body was painted on the house front. Nimpkish artist Doug Cranmer, who inherited Chief Wakas' crests, carved this new pole in 1987.

British Columbia · Canada