Stanley Park is arguably Vancouver’s most popular tourist attraction. But there’s more to explore then just biking along the sea wall. The famous totem pole display at Brockton Point began in 1920 with four totems from the Alert Bay region on Vancouver Island and slowly grew over the decades adding totems from Haida Gwaii and Rivers Inlet. They were originally located at Lumbermens’ Arch and Prospect Point but were moved to Brockton Point in 1962 where they now reside. The Rose Cole Yelton Memorial totem pole is the first totem pole you see when entering the Brockton Point display area, it honours the last surviving resident of the Brockton community as well as all it’s other residents who lived  in Stanley Park. The eight totems in the main display area are Oscar Maltipi totem, Chief Skedans Mortuary totem, Chief Wakas totem, Thunderbird House Post totem, Kakaso’Las totem, Beaver Crest totem, Ga’akstalas totem, Sky Chief Totem. The Oscar Maltipi totem displays a colourful totem with many animals including a killer whale and the mythical thunderbird. The Chief Skedans Mortuary totem is the only Mortuary totem pole making it very unique, this type of totem pole has a cavity at the top where a chief’s remains would be placed. The Chief Wakas totem was originally placed at the entrance of Chief Wakas’ house and represents a talking stick which is held by people who are making important speeches on the chief’s behalf. The Thunderbird House Post totem displays a colourful open winged thunderbird and is one of the most famous totem poles in Stanley Park. The Kakaso’Las totem is the most colourful totem among the display, this totem shows a sea bear holding a killer whale followed by a man then a frog and below that is a raven. The Beaver Crest totem is not painted in bright colours like most of the other totems and the main body is circular with no wings or beaks protruding, the carvings on the totem tells the story of the Nisga’a family Tait. Ga’akstalas totem displays many well known men and animals with many bright colours, this totem shows the Red Cedar bark man, a killer whale, raven and grizzly bear. The Sky Chief Totem is another very colourful totem among the display in Stanley Park and depicts a kingfisher, killer whale, snake and wolf. Whether you have been to Stanley Park and seen the display at Brockton Point, these totems are rich in culture and have something to teach everyone. 

Thunderbird House Post totem pole / Pixabay