Why No Frontal Poles Are Still Standing

Three types of poles were commonly used at Haida Villages – house frontal poles, mortuary poles and memorial poles.  The frontal poles are probably what most westerners think of when hearing about totem poles.  They were always elaborately carved with crests that identified the lineage of the family living within the house.  They might also tell a story that was significant in the history of the family.  They were positioned at the center-front of the house.  There was a portal carved through the pole near the base that was just large enough for a human to pass through.  This portal was used during special, or ceremonial occasions. 

A painted pole at the Haida Cultural Centre. This pole features a moon motif near the top which can only be used by a Haida chief. Note the opening at the base, which along with the hollow interior made these "frontal" poles lighter but also made them weaker, and none of the original now stand.

Mortuary poles were a bit like mausoleums in the European world. They were erected as the final resting place of the most prominent members of a village.  The body would first spend a year or more in a mortuary house before being placed in a bentwood box and transferred into the mortuary pole.  There was a cavity at the top of the pole large enough to hold a bentwood box containing the human remains.  These poles were carved from a solid tree and placed with the base of the tree up.  This helped provide a larger chamber for the bentwood box. 

Memorial poles were erected to honor the memory of prominent members of the village whose remains were not available – such as those lost at sea or perhaps in a raid at a distant location.  They were also carved from solid tree, but with the base down. 

There are mortuary and memorial poles still standing at Skedans and SGang Gwaay, but no frontal poles.   Frontal poles were the tallest of the three types of poles.  The backside of frontal poles was hollowed out to make them lighter and easier to handle.   The portal through the base, combined with their height and the hollowed backs made these poles more vulnerable to age and weather.  Hence, none are still standing today.