- City:
- Kasaan, AK
- Site Type:
- Archaeology and History, Art Works, Sculptures, Historical Restoration
- New Deal Agencies:
- Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Work Relief Programs
- Started:
- 1938
- Completed:
- 1939
- Artists:
- Haida craftsmen, Tlingit craftsmen
- Designer:
- Architect Linn A. Forrest (restoration)
- Quality of Information:
- Very Good
- Site Survival:
- Extant
Description
David Peele and craftsmen enrolled in the Civilian Conservation Corps carved a copy of the Spencer Pole. The Kasaan Haida Heritage Foundation describes the significance of the figures represented on the pole: “The 40-foot Spencer Pole was raised by Kate Gamede, a Kasaan woman of Táas Láanas clan, as a memorial to her husband, a photographer from Victoria, BC. The image of Mr. Spencer appears at the top of the pole; below appear scroll patterns; Raven carrying the moon in his mouth; and Black Skin, the strong man, holding the sea lion. The last figure illustrates a story familiar to the Haida and Tlingit; a weak boy who trained and finally overcame all of his stronger relatives. His chief exploit was tearing a sea lion in two to the consternation of his companions. This pole was taken down on December 22, 1938 in Old Kasaan and barged to the new site where it was adzed and re-carved by David Peele.”
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.Site originally submitted by Brent McKee on August 4, 2017.
At this Location:
- Chief Son-I-Hat's Whale House and Totems Historic District, Son-I-Hat Frontal Pole - Kasaan AK
- Chief Son-I-Hat's Whale House and Totems Historic District, Sitting Bear Grave Marker - Kasaan AK
- Chief Son-I-Hat's Whale House and Totems Historic District, Killer Whale Grave Figure - Kasaan AK
- Chief Son-I-Hat's Whale House and Totems Historic District, Frog/Two Eagle Memorial Pole - Kasaan AK
- Chief Son-I-Hat's Whale House and Totems Historic District, Back Potlatch Ring Pole - Kasaan AK
- Chief Son-I-Hat's Whale House and Totems Historic District, Ha’u Pole - Kasaan AK
- Chief Son-I-Hat's Whale House and Totems Historic District, Bear Memorial Pole - Kasaan AK
- Chief Son-I-Hat's Whale House and Totems Historic District, Skawaal Pole - Kasaan AK
- Chief Son-I-Hat's Whale House and Totems Historic District - Kasaan AK
- Chief Son-I-Hat’s Whale House and Totems Historic District, Whale House - Kasaan AK
- Totem Trail at Chief Son-I-Hat’s Whale House and Totems Historic District - Kasaan AK
View all sites at Chief Son-I-Hat's Whale House and Totems Historic District - AK (12 Sites)
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