Totem Pole
Thunderbird and
Frog Totem
STATUS : Private Collection
This totem brings together the Thunderbird and the Frog, representing both my Gitxsan and Tsimshian family history. The Frog comes from an old family style passed down through my grandmother on my father’s side, while the Thunderbird represents my grandfather and the traditional knowledge he carried.
My grandfather knew the Chiefs from villages throughout the Skeena River and along the coast. He spoke the old dialects and understood the histories of the people. Together, the Thunderbird and Frog represent home, family, and the connection between Gitxsan and Tsimshian teachings. The pole honours the knowledge carried by earlier generations and the responsibility to keep those teachings alive.
Artist
Rupert Jeffrey
NATION
Gitxsan Nation
CATEGORY
Totem Pole
MATERIALS
Birch wood; traditional paints
DIMENSIONS
Height: 34 in; Width: 9 in; Depth: 6 in
STATUS
Private Collection
CRAFTED FOR YOU
Commission a Carving
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