In a story of the first potlatch, a celebratory feast held by the native people of the Pacific Northwest, fishermen catch a codfish, break its fins, and throw it back into the water. The fish tells Nagunaks, chief of the undersea world, who sends whales to bring the men to his house. The men stay in Nagunaks house for many years and eventually befriend the creatures of the sea. To celebrate, Nagunaks calls sea creatures from around the world to the first potlatch. Nagunaks appears in human form at the bottom of the totem pole, though he is typically said to take the form of a killer whale. The totem pole was hand-carved by Tsimshian artisan David Boxley.