Skáwaal Pole
Also known as First Eagle Pole. Photo by Louis A. Thompson, courtesy of the Alaska State Historic Preservation Office.
Description
Craftsmen enrolled in the Civilian Conservation Corps restored the original Skawaal Pole. The Kasaan Haida Heritage Foundation describes the significance of the figures represented on this pole: “This pole is about 50-feet high and was one of two poles which stood in front of Chief Skáwaal’s Rib House. When the pole was moved to New Kasaan, the thunderbird figure at the top was replaced and the surface was carved down to solid wood during the CCC restoration. The carved figures below the ring appear the same for each pole: Raven with the moon in its beak; Raven holding his beak bent down in his hands; and at the base, a bear with cubs in its mouth. This pole was removed from the village and restored at New Kasaan.”
Source notes
National Register of Historic Places Registration Form for the Chief Son-I-Hat's Whale House and Totems Historic District, accessed on August 2, 2017. NÁAY I´WAANS, A Joint Project with Kasaan Haida Heritage Foundation and the Organized Village of Kasaan, August 1, 2017.
Project originally submitted by Brent McKee on August 4, 2017.
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