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Totem Poles As An Art Form
Totem poles are monumental carvings found in western Canada and the northwestern United States. They are a type of Northwest Coast art, consisting of poles, posts or pillars, carved with symbols or figures. They are usually made from large trees, mostly western red cedar, by First Nations and Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast including northern Northwest Coast Haida, Tlingit, and Tsimshian communities in Southeast Alaska and British Columbia, Kwakwaka'wakw and Nuu-chah-nulth communities in southern British Columbia, and the Coast Salish communities in Washington and British Columbia. [from wikipedia]
Totem Poles at Sanchez School Totem Poles at the Oregon Zoo
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Totem Poles at the Oregon Zoo, in Washington Park, Portland, Oregon

The word totem derives from the Algonquian word odoodem meaning "(his) kinship group". The carvings may symbolize or commemorate ancestors, cultural beliefs that recount familiar legends, clan lineages, or notable events. The poles may also serve as functional architectural features, welcome signs for village visitors, mortuary vessels for the remains of deceased ancestors, or as a means to publicly ridicule someone. [from wikipedia]

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Totem Poles at Sanchez School, As A Form Of Art, 325 Sanchez Street, San Francisco, California

Sanchez Elementary School is a strong school community committed to high quality instruction for all students. We believe deeply in the importance of developing and using strong partnerships to support engagement and learning goals for students. [from sfusd.edu]


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