Header - Thunder Bird Park

Title - Late Park

Thunderbird Park, 1954.
BC Government photograph.
BC Archives I-26974.

Haida Pole, 1954
Carvers: Mungo Martin, David Martin and Henry Hunt
Based on: Haida House Frontal Pole

This new version of a Haida house frontal pole is placed against a reproduction of a Haida house-front frame to show the original function of the pole and its relationship to the structure. The house frame and corner Watchmen figures are based on historical photographs of lragilda ‘llnagaay (Skidegate); the pole is copied from a pole that Charles F. Newcombe purchased at hlqin7ul ‘llnagaay (Cumshewa) in 1901 (RBCM: 1307). Erected as a free-standing pole in Thunderbird Park in 1941, the original was eventually moved to museum storage for preservation. This version was later moved to the front of a new carving studio in the form of a Haida house. It was destroyed when the building burned down in July, 1980.

 

Thunderbird Park, 1954. BC Government photograph. BC Archives I-26974.



Killer Whale flanked by two Watchmen. The Killer Whale’s fin rises between the hats of the Watchmen, whose hat rings (skils) indicate chiefly wealth and status related to potlatching.
Long-beaked bird, perhaps 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 identify.
A small human face wearing a hat with rings (skils) supports the small bear and leans above the face of the bottom figure. This may represent the Bear Mother story about a woman who 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.

 
 

Haida Pole in situhlqin7ul ‘llnagaay (Cumshewa), 1878. George M. Dawson photograph. RBCM PN 1021.
Closer up view of Haida Pole in situhlqin7ul ‘llnagaay (Cumshewa), 1878. George M. Dawson photograph. RBCM PN 1021.
Haida Pole highlighted in red in Thunderbird ParkThunderbird Park, 1955. Wilson Duff photograph.
RBCM PN 12999.
Close up of Haida PoleThunderbird Park, 1954. BC Government photograph.
BC Archives I-26970.
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