Hydaburg is the largest settlement of Haida Indians in Alaska- pop. 400. The weekend we visited was the annual totem pole raising and this year a woman carver directed the making of this pole AND the women carried it from the carving shed to the totem park! Haida warrior women!!
Dorothy was so excited to be there that she ran down and grabbed the very top of the pole to help in getting the totem to its permanent resting place. Alice was standing on the church steps taking photos when she saw her in the crowd- what? Okay, another photo opp...
Once the pole got to the park, several big ropes were tied to it to assist in lifting it into place. Both Dorothy and Alice took their place on a rope to steady and lift this beautiful new pole. It is part of the restoration project that is ongoing, and someday all of the old, peeling poles will be replaced. They are now made of red cedar, the only wood that can withstand the weather in Alaska.
Following the pole raisings Hydaburg celebrated with potlatches both Friday and Saturday nights. The food was wonderful, plentiful, and heavily protein: venison, salmon, halibut, shrimp, crab, ham, turkey, wow! We took our little offerings of food, as well. Dancing and singing followed, with groups from Klawock, Ketchikan, and Hydaburg performing. The auditorium was big and it was difficult to get good photos. Note the woman in the foreground holding her baby who is also wearing a typical Haida hat woven of cedar strips!
Hydaburg is the largest settlement of Haida Indians in Alaska- pop. 400. The weekend we visited was the annual totem pole raising and this year a woman carver directed the making of this pole AND the women carried it from the carving shed to the totem park! Haida warrior women!!
Dorothy was so excited to be there that she ran down and grabbed the very top of the pole to help in getting the totem to its permanent resting place. Alice was standing on the church steps taking photos when she saw her in the crowd- what? Okay, another photo opp...
Once the pole got to the park, several big ropes were tied to it to assist in lifting it into place. Both Dorothy and Alice took their place on a rope to steady and lift this beautiful new pole. It is part of the restoration project that is ongoing, and someday all of the old, peeling poles will be replaced. They are now made of red cedar, the only wood that can withstand the weather in Alaska.
Following the pole raisings Hydaburg celebrated with potlatches both Friday and Saturday nights. The food was wonderful, plentiful, and heavily protein: venison, salmon, halibut, shrimp, crab, ham, turkey, wow! We took our little offerings of food, as well. Dancing and singing followed, with groups from Klawock, Ketchikan, and Hydaburg performing. The auditorium was big and it was difficult to get good photos. Note the woman in the foreground holding her baby who is also wearing a typical Haida hat woven of cedar strips!
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