Library totem
goes up

A 20-foot totem pole representing the history of the Haines library was unveiled at a ceremony on the south side of the library’s grounds Saturday.

Part of an eight-year collaboration between the Chilkoot Indian Association and the library, the totem was presented to community members, who gathered in the wind and rain and cheered as the pole was revealed.

“Pull the cord,” directed carver Jim Heaton, who designed the totem and oversaw the work of three Klukwan carvers and three teenage apprentices. “Thank you so much for braving the weather.”

The pole, a straight-grained, 800-year-old cedar from Kake, has a crouching female at its base. Representing the Haines Woman’s Club, which opened the first library in the mid-1930s, the female, who has a labret in her lip, is holding the “Box of Knowledge.”

The box doubles as a time capsule and is filled with letters, photographs, an Obama pin, a copy of the week’s Chilkat Valley News and other mementos from 2009. It will be opened in 25 years.

Above the female is carved both a raven and eagle, in profile, with a human figure in between. This figure represents the patrons of the library and is holding a book titled “Totem Carving for Dummies.” Three tinahs are next, symbolizing the wealth of the library and the three different buildings the library has occupied.

A Chilkat Blanket is above the tinahs and represents the wealth of the library donors and volunteers. A dragonfly is situated above the blanket, commemorating the Dragonfly Project between the CIA and the library in which children taught adults computer skills. A dragonfly traditionally represents a seeker of knowledge.

Originally designed for a 15-foot pole, the open space up top was filled by the carvers, who selected figures of their choice. A bear, wood frog, whale’s tail, wolf, salmon and others fill the top, as well as an adze and carving knives.

Heaton, who also carved a knot in the rope on the totem, said he added that because the log was exceptionally clear.

“It’s real unusual to get such a nice yellow cedar log anymore. …It’s almost too good to be true,” he said of the log, which he got for $1,200 but is valued closer to $10,000. “We didn’t have to argue with it.”

Also unusual was that the pole was carved without any of the carvers cutting themselves, he said.

Started in late May, the pole was carved in the parking lot beside the library, where community members and tourists watched the work.

“It’s nice to get the interaction with people… The local people that would stop by, most of them on a regular basis, were real excited because it’s our pole. It’s not going to get shipped out.”

Heaton said the workers were inundated by tourists on cruise ship days. The borough providing some project funding and advertising.

Workers suffered blisters and sore bodies the first week of carving, when the heavy work of flattening and evening the log took place.

The first pole raised in town since 1987, the project provided summer work for three carvers and apprentices: Joe King, Daniel Klanott, Jeffrey Klanott and Cody Fisher, Cory Grant and Zach James. Katrina Hotch also helped carve and provided Tlingit language lessons during the work.

James, who graduated from Haines High School in May, said the work provided valuable lessons. “This summer I was looking for a job, but in the end I found an apprenticeship…that gave me much more.”

Tlingit dancers, speakers, song and food were also part of the celebration, with Smitty Katzeek speaking for the Raven moiety.

Katzeek said it is refreshing to see Tlingit culture appreciated and for this generation to learn traditional ways.

“You know they remember something that their grandparents used to do,” he said. “It’s not really a good day, but it’s a wonderful day, to see that pole standing out there.”