Stories Carved in Cedar

Voices from the Community

The creativity and toughness of indigenous culture is never more present than within its people. If not for their strength and resilience, indigenous communities would fall in silence. If not for the voices of their people, stories could no longer be shared. These carved cedar posts could no longer be called totems. Let us look at how their stories, legacies, and values are being kept alive to this day.

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Nuxalk
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House entrance pole shown in Thunderbird Park beside carved figures of bears.
Ista

Ista is Nuxalk from Bella Coola. She received assistance with the project from Dale McCreery and local elders in Bella Coola.  Explore a curated selection of Royal BC Museum objects and contemporary photographs that inspire this community member to continue working in the tradition. Visit Ista's Gallery

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Kwakwaka'wakw
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Lou-ann Neel
Lou-ann Neel

Gilakas’la! My name Kwak’wala name is Ika’wega, and my English name is Lou-ann Neel; I am from the Kwagiulth and Mamalilikulla tribes of the Kwakwaka’wakw people. I am a practicing Kwak’wala language learner and  visual artist.  In addition to my work as a language learner and artist, I have worked for over 30 years in policy and program development in the areas arts, culture, languages and community development. I currently work full time at the Royal BC Museum as the Repatriation Specialist, and enjoy meeting people from all BC communities to discuss repatriation and reconciliation. U’lamgilagw, Lily Erford (nee Flanders), is from the Mamalilikulla, Ma’amtagila and Da’naxda’xw tribes of the Kwakwaka’wakw people. Now retired, Lily worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse and then as a Registered Nurse for 37 years at the Royal Jubilee Hospital and the Victoria General Hospital in Victoria, BC. Lily is a fluent speaker of Kwak’wala (her first language), and she has been a language teacher in urban Kwak’wala language classes that take place in Victoria, BC. Lily is also called upon frequently to assist in translating a wide range of texts from English to Kwak’wala and vice-versa. Visit Lou-ann Neel 's Gallery

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Coast Salish
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Shiela Sampson
The Sampson Family

This section was a combined effort on the part of: Anthony Sampson Jr – LENECTET – Age 12 – Pacific Christian School – Grade 6 - Coast Salish (Songhees/Tsartlip – Nez Perce) Aaliyah Sampson – TTASELWET – Age 11 – Pacific Christian School – Grade 6 - Coast Salish (Songhees/Tsartlip – Nez Perce) Tom Sampson – TTASELEK - Coast Salish (Tsartlip) – Nez Perce Under the Guidance of Sheila Sampson, Collections Assistant at the Royal BC Museum. While researching the project, it wasn’t just about listening to the history. We actually went to visit the sites where some of the houses were. This gave us a better insight and understanding of our history culture. The grandchildren went to four of the language classes to receive a better understanding of how important the language is! This has been an inspiring project and a good learning lesson for us all! Explore a curated selection of Royal BC Museum objects and contemporary photographs that inspire this community member to continue working in the tradition. Visit The Sampson Family's Gallery

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Gitxsan
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Side view of the pole standing in Thunderbird Park with other poles, carved figures, wooden structure, and The Empress Hotel in the background.
Kolin Sutherland-Wilson

Kolin is Gitxsan from the Village of Anspayaxw. He is currently an undergraduate student at UVic in the departments of Indigenous Studies and Environmental Studies. He received assistance and guidance with the Gitxsan language portion of the Virtual Totem Gallery from Art Wilson and Dr. Jane Smith. Explore a curated selection of Royal BC Museum objects and contemporary photographs that inspire this community member to continue working in the tradition. Visit Kolin Sutherland-Wilson's Gallery

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Nuu-chah-nulth
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Miniature colorful wooden thunderbird totem pole
Kura Rorick

Hello, I am Kura Rorick. I am 11 years old. I’m Hesquiaht (Nuu-chah-nulth) and Haida, and I love to research about my culture. I mostly enjoy things like totem poles, masks, woven hats, etc. but really I like to see any type of First Nations art! Another thing I enjoy is learning my mom’s Nuu-chah-nulth language. I’ve been to hundreds of her classes and language nests. I have even been to Juneau, Alaska, to see the Sealaska heritage celebration in 2018. I have always been involved with my culture and I will always look  forward to learning more ! Visit Kura Rorick's Gallery

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Add Your Voice

How have you kept the voice of your community alive? What are your thoughts on totems and their stories? Share your experiences and/or images like your peers before you in the Voices from the Community section. 

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