This model totem pole tells the story of family, responsibility, and the connections carried through generations. At the top, three Watchmen represent the Gitxsan, Tsimshian, and Haida Nations. Below them, the Killer Whale, Grizzly Bear Dancer, Thunderbird, and young Thunderbird bring together teachings about strength, protection, reincarnation, and the passing of life from one generation to the next.
Further down, the female Killer Whale represents my mother’s side of the family, while the Grizzly Sea Bear holds a frog and two salmon. Six carved rectangles at the base represent six generations of my Gitxsan family. Together, the figures show how family history, clan relationships, and responsibility remain connected, with each generation carrying the knowledge and teachings of those who came before.