Grizzly-of-the-Sun

One of the poles at Kispiox for which some information is known is the Grizzly-of-the-Sun pole. It is comprised of two owls, one at the top and one at the bottom. In the middle is the Grizzly-bear with the sun around his neck. There are small human figures which were termed “People-around.” Emily Carr noted in a 1913 lecture on totems: "I saw this same story depicted upon two different poles, each being carried out in entirely different design. One stands in the village of Kispiox and one in Kitwanga, both up Skeena River district."

She then recounted the lengthy and detailed saga of a young Gitxsan noblewoman captured in a raid by Haidas, made a slave wife to a great chief, bearing him three sons-the first two of which the father killed. On the birth of her third son, "she determined that he should not share the fate of his brothers, so, waiting 'til her lord chief slept, she came stealthily and cut his head off - taking the head, she placed it up in her canoe and taking her babe she fled across that rough body of water . . . up the treacherous 'Skeena', back to the home of her father. The Haidas saw her pass, but as the husbands head was visible in the canoe they supposed him to be with her and did not give chase."

We live in an area rich in aboriginal history and culture. In August of last year we had the honor of participating in a pole raising at the Kitselas Village. It was the first pole raising for their village in 140-years. Seeing the joy and pride expressed by young and old alike, filled me with hope that there is a bright future ahead for Canada’s first people. And it is what led to our cross country trip looking for other bright sparks of light in these difficult times.

Faces on Grizzly-of-the-Sun bear paws

'People-around' on Grizzly-of-the-sun pole

... P. L. Morningstar
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