Looking at Totem Poles

by Hilary Stewart

Book Overview

Magnificent and haunting, the tall cedar sculptures called totem poles have become a distinctive symbol of the native people of the Northwest Coast. The powerful carvings of the vital and extraordinary beings such as Sea Bear, Thunderbird and Cedar Man are impressive and intriguing. In clear and lively prose, Hilary Stewart describes the various types of poles, their purpose, and how they were carved and raised. She also identifies and explains frequently...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1550540742
• ISBN13: 9781550540741
• Release Date: January 1993
• Publisher: New Press
• Length: 191 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Excellent intro to totem poles

I bought this book after a recent visit to Vancouver and viewing several totem poles in Stanley Park as well as at the UBC Museum of Anthropology. I found the opening chapters to provide a great deal of succinct information on the origin and art of totem poles. It also explained the iconography and the stories behind the legends depicted. While this book is not in depth in terms of the history of the First Nations peoples (which I don't think it is meant to be), it does provide a guide to understanding several prominent totem poles in the Northwest. I highly recommend this book to anyone visiting Vancouver's totem poles as it will help you interpret your photos after returning home.

A tour of the Northwest

This is absolutely essential for anyone going to British Columbia or Alaska. It gives a brief description and explanation of almost all the important outdoor totem poles you'll come across, taking you through the poles figure by figure. I found it invaluable when in Victoria's Thunderbird Park and Vancouver's Stanley Park and Museum of Anthropology. A real gem you'll read over and glance through again once you're back home.

excellent reference on the northwest art form

No frills, no gimmicks, just an excellent written and graphic profile of totem poles as a symbol of a North American people. Allows you to enter a community where beliefs in the earth, sky, oceans, mountains and animals continue to be spiritual.