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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Taupou, post: 8888, member: 45&quot;]Probably the first thing to remember, in trying to identify this, is that this is not a real totem pole...it is a souvenir totem pole.&nbsp; As such, it isn&#039;t going to conform entirely to a specific tribal style.&nbsp; It was carved for sale, and most likely based on previous sales, features figures and colors that are more likely to attract buyers.&nbsp; It can&#039;t re-create exactly any real totem pole, because that would be copying an art form that is owned by a particular family, who has rights to the image.</p><p><br /></p><p>That said, Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, and Kwakiutl tribes do share common themes and colors in their style of art.&nbsp; The carved souvenir totem poles usually reflect a &quot;general&quot; style associated with each tribe.&nbsp; Kwakiutl souvenirs are the style with the outspread wings.&nbsp; Haida are associated with the argillite (or now the black resin) columns.&nbsp; Tlingit are known for the wings shown on the example in post #5.</p><p><br /></p><p>This particular on appears to be based loosely on a pole in the VanDusen Gardens in Vancouver.&nbsp; It is illustrated in Hilary Stewart&#039;s book, <u>Looking at Totem Poles</u>.&nbsp; She relates the legend associated with the pole, which features <i>Baboudina</i>, the Chief of the Mosquitoes, the top figure on the pole. He killed a party of hunters, but missed one of the wives, who in turn was able to kill him, cut out his heart, and revive the hunters by swinging Baboudina&#039;s heart over them.&nbsp; Baboudina&#039;s body was burned, and as the ashes flew up from the fire...they became mosquitoes.</p><p><br /></p><p>(Just in the interest of accuracy, the preferred name for the tribe is now Gitksan or Gitxsan, rather than interior Tsimshian.&nbsp; I should have used that, but thought more people would be familiar with Tsimshian.)[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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