The pole was carved by Nisga’a Artist Mike Dangeli. The carving of the pole began last September. It was carved from a culturally modified tree. Finding a home for the pole was difficult, with help from the Minister of Highways it found a home on Kitsumkalum territory west of Terrace just off Highway 16.
For Dangeli this marked the 26th totem pole he has created. The pole was created with assistance from his sons, nephew and wife. The base of the totem pole represents rope as many layers cannot be broken, representing human beings coming together and being unbreakable.
The second figure from the bottom is the killer whale that represents the territory it rests on. The figures represent the people of Kitsumkalum. The centre figure is a woman wearing a red dress that symbolizes the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. On the same row the figures represent children as they are the future as well as there to witness.
The next figure represents the Matriarchs, representing aunties, cousins, grandmothers, mothers and sisters. The last figure on the top is the robin representing the Kitsumkalum people.
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