Authentic Haida Orca & Raven Argillite Totem Pole - Handcrafted Native American Art for Home Décor & Cultural Display

Product Description

This Orca & Raven Totem Pole is hand-carved in argillite by Haida carver Denny Dixon. The totem pole features an Orca at the base and a Raven at the top of the pole.

This sculpure is inspired by the Haida legend of Raven-Fin and Noisy-Fin recorded in the Jesup North Pacific ​Expedition, Haida texts, by John R. Swanton in 1908.

In the story, a talented carver and painter named Go'ttca who is left behind after a sea-lion hunting trip is able to carve two supernatural killer whales out of yew wood that come to life to help him when he throws them into the sea. The people of Go'ttca's village believed that he had perished but Go'ttca instructs Raven-Fin and Noisy-Fin to provide ten whales for Go'ttca's village during a time of hunger. Go'ttca then joined the Chief of the Undersea after instructing the people to take up residence in two chiefly houses, not just one. The story of Raven-Fin continues after his brother Noisy-Fin is killed by a monstrous Octopus or Devil-Fish that is killing many sea creatures and Haida people. Raven-Fin calls upon all the sharp-toothed creatures of the sea to destroy the Octopus that had killed his brother Noisy-Fin and brought havoc to the local people. --Swanton, 1908

Find more information about and examples of Northwest Coast First Nations symbol.

Find more information about and examples of Northwest Coast First Nations symbol.

The pole measures approximately 6 1/2 inches or 16 1/2 centimeters high, 1 3/4 inches or 4 1/2 centimeters wide, and 2 1/4 inches or 5 3/4 centimeters deep.