Haida House Frontal Pole

Early Park Title

Haida House Frontal Pole, 19th century

This pole can be seen in a photograph of the community of hlqin7ul ‘llnagaay (Cumshewa), Haida Gwaii, taken by George M. Dawson in 1878. There, it stood before the wide gable boards of an unoccupied dwelling. The owners of the house may have relocated to Massett, where Newcombe purchased the pole in 1901.
RBCM 1307.

	Killer Whale flanked by two Watchmen. The Killer Whale’s fin rises between the hats of the Watchmen, the rings of which indicate chiefly wealth and status related to potlatching.
	Long-beaked bird, perhaps a Raven or Heron, with a young bird and a human face on its breast.
	Bear in human form with a small bear on its chest, revealing its true identity.
	A small human face wearing a hat with skils supports the small bear and leans above the face of the bottom figure. This may represent the Bear Mother story, where a woman marries a bear and gives birth to half-human, half-bear children.
	Supernatural creature with a Frog in its mouth. People entered the house through an oval hole (now missing) at the base of this figure. Image:Thunderbird Park, 1947. BC Government photograph. BC Archives I-26796.

hlqin7ul ‘llnagaay (Cumshewa), 1878. George M. Dawson photograph. RBCM PN 1021.
hlqin7ul ‘llnagaay (Cumshewa), 1878. George M. Dawson photograph. RBCM PN 1021.




Thunderbird Park, 1950s. BC Government photograph. BC Archives B-07294.

Back to Map

Top