Mary W. asked “What is the largest item in your collection?”
The largest item in our collection is the Smith Family Totem Pole. It stands 40 feet tall and weighs around two thousand pounds.
Commissioned by Chief Sewid (Sewid Smith) of the Tlowitsis Nation in 1907 on Turnour Island, British Columbia to instantiate his descendant claim, the pole was carved by the artist Charlie Yakuglas James, who may have been assisted by Mungo Martin. Both are renowned Kwakwaka’wakwa totem pole carvers.
Post by Lea McChesney and Lauren Fuka
We'll be featuring the full story of the Smith Family Totem Pole in upcoming posts!
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