A family totem in the hills of the Pacific Northwest

     In the hills of the Pacific Northwest, shrouded in fog and mist, birds echo through the thick forests of fir and cedar trees. This is the land of endless evergreen, and a place where people care deeply about trees. For one Oregon family,  the loss of a cherished cedar tree led to a beautiful creation.  Native art, totem poles, offered inspiration on how to carry on the life spirit of the grand old tree.

     When this family lost a giant Port Orford Cedar tree on their property to a fungus, they decided to have an authentic native totem pole made from the fallen tree. That totem pole now stands glowing in their yard.

     Just as totem poles for native peoples served the purpose of telling a story, this totem does also.  Totem poles tell stories about a clan, and are not worshiped. In older times, native families or clans adopted a symbolic animal to represent them and this symbol appeared on the totem pole. Cedar trees were used as they were prized for many reasons.

     Susan, the mother of this Oregon family, says each member of her family picked a symbol that spoke to them from those symbols typically used by the peoples of the Northwest. Her son chose a bear, which represents being a teacher, as the boy has always loved bears. The older sister who adores sea creatures chose the otter, representing a mischievous creature that is also a symbol of laughter,  grace,

and empathy. The father, an expert fly fisherman, chose the salmon, which symbolizes instinct and determination. Susan chose the moon as her symbol as it reflects the mysterious feminine force of the universe, and its wisdom and balance. Together, the family chose the sea turtle symbol, reminding them of a favorite time in Hawaii.

     The totem pole’s carver, James Bender, was trained by a preeminent native carver, and explained to them the importance of the symbol crowning the pole and asked what they had in mind for that. He had been thinkingof the kingfisher bird, but before he mentioned that Susan said ”We are thinking of the kingfisher bird.” And so all minds met on that symbol. Crowning this pole, the kingfisher symbol holds a snake in its mouth. The bird symbolizes good luck, patience, and agility and the snake represents the primal life force of the universe, or in East Indian philosophy, the kundalini energy, that can be taken in by all of us.

     Susan says “This was my favorite tree and the cornerstone of our home in a way. After it died, I really wanted to figure out a way to keep it in our lives and the totem idea was just right. It’s a real pleasure to walk out in the garden and see it standing there. It still has the soul of that great tree and now the spirit of our family.”

     This totem pole’s warm beauty and striking images make us pause and reflect; its playfulness and power radiate to the whole community. It compels us to think about life essence, individuality, and that all life forms perish and merge into other life, as this tree’s life now tells a new story.