Totem poles have been carved and cherished from many generations. Some totem poles recall ancient stories, handed down from family, to family. Totems, typically Consisting of poles, posts or pillars, carved with symbols. They are usually made from large trees, mostly of North America (northwestern and Canada's province, ). The word totem derives from the word "his kinship group". The carvings may symbolize or respect cultural beliefs that go back from familiar legends, and notable events. The poles may also serve as functional features, welcome signs for village visitors, mortuary vessels for the remains of deceased ancestors, or as a means to publicly ridicule someone. Given the complexity and symbolic meaning of totem pole carvings, their placement and meaning lies in the observer's knowledge and were likely preceded by a long history of decorative carving, with stylistic features borrowed from smaller prototypes. …show more content…
Trade and settlement did lead to the rise of population of totem pole carving, but governmental policies sharply reduced totem pole production by the end of nineteenth century. Renewed interest from tourists, collectors, and scholars in the 1880s and 1890s helped heal and collect the totem poles that were left. Nearly all totem pole making had vanished by