Ninstints mortuary poles...

"[www.canadian99s.org];
and yes you are correct, the remains were placed in a box set onto the top of the pole.

When the antr5hopologists firtst started retrieveing these poles for shipment to museums the elders were aghast!! The poles are supposed to rot and fall in place...the cirlce of life et al

<<<<<> Some were power poles ie protection against the
> forces of nature
>

Do you have a citation for this? The scholars I read said that there were 6 types of poles (not all carved) : House pillars and false house pillars, Mortuary poles, Memorial poles (living and dead people), family ("heraldic") poles, Potlatch poles which include the mythic history of the person and his wife, and the Ridicule/Shame pole ">>>>

the indiviual Icons/totems that make up many poles have individual attributes that do not in any way conflict with their primary purpose( whcih you have listed above). taken as a who0le they are bastions against the forces of nature

"> A bear holding a fish not only insures a good
> catch, but acts as a guardian over the fishermen
> until their return.

I haven't seen this expressed anywhere. I confess my ignorance. Can you give me a source? "

Frankly, it's such a given that the idea of having to look it up has never occured to me


">
> While their elemental beliefs are represented on
> the pole I do not think a comparisson to an Old
> Testament Fable holds much water.

You could argue the matter with the Haida docent at the museum who told us this. I'm just repeating what I was told."

I would first ask a very pertinent question,,,was that particualar Haida a Christian?

I can tell you that the missionary excesses beat their traditions out of them, beat their language out of them, beat all their power out of them. leaving them as cultural husks..prime fodder for conversion.

I didn't wish to appear to be arguing with you, BTW.




Warwick


" I have always found that the main obstacle to free
association on these boards is the broad
misconception that what we do not know is more
significant than what we do know."

Warwick L Nixon, March 8, 2019