ACTIVITIES
A Living History
PRESERVING POLES FROM THE PAST
Rooted in the earth of Sitka National Historical Park ( SNHP ) stand 18 totem poles , gifts from the Indigenous peoples of Southeast Alaska . Each pole , unique in its carving , message , and appearance , serves a similar purpose : to preserve and share the Tlingít and Haida cultures .
The totem poles throughout the park , whether they are intended to convey history , ancestry , life experiences , legends , or memories , stand as links to the cultural heritage of those who have called this island home for thousands of years . Kevin Mahe , Chief of Interpretation and Education at SNHP , explains , “ Totem poles really are an art form that can do a variety of things , but traditionally , this art is what welcomed people when they visited clans and villages .”
The park holds historical significance as the 1804 battleground between Russian traders and Indigenous Kiks . ádi Tlingít . Over 100 years after this battle , totem poles were raised throughout the park by Alaska Governor John Green Brady , who sought to safeguard and showcase their remarkable cultural importance .
In the early 1900s , after war , disease , and the suppression of Native culture , traditions were changing . In an effort to preserve the culture and promote travel to Alaska , Governor Brady looked to bring the region ’ s most recognizable feature – totem poles – to a wider audience . First , he was tasked with creating an exhibit at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St . Louis in 1904 . Brady traveled to Southeast Alaska ’ s Tlingít and Haida villages , asking leaders to donate totem poles that could be put on display for the exposition .
Ultimately , poles from the Old Kasaan , Howkan , Koianglas , Sukkwan , Tuxekan , Tongass , Klinkwan , and Klawock villages were gifted as an effort to preserve culture and share it with visitors coming to Alaska .
Shipping 15 Tlingít and Haida totem poles to St . Louis was no easy feat , and Brady knew repairs would likely be needed , so he organized a group of Native carvers to escort the poles to the exposition . Following St . Louis , the poles headed to Portland , Oregon , where the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition was held in 1905 . After Portland , the poles made one final trek home to Alaska , and once local craftsmen repaired and repainted the totem poles , they were then erected throughout Sitka ’ s park in 1906 .
Today , the poles around the park have changed . Many seen standing among the soaring hemlock and spruce trees are replicas of the originals . While the poles were meticulously cared for over decades , like all life , their natural deterioration was inevitable . But their stories and meanings continue to live on , and a few original poles and pieces of the poles can still be viewed inside the park ’ s Visitors Center .
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