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New Pole raised at Thunderbird Park

raising5.gif (67225 bytes)On Saturday, October 30th 1999 family and friends of artists Johnathan Henderson and Sean Whonnock gathered to witness the unveiling of their totem pole at Thunderbird Park in Victoria. The park is situated next to The Royal Museum Of British Columbia and has a number of contemporary totem poles displayed there.

The rain fell as the gathering took place outside of Mungo's Big House. The importance of the day was reflected in the words spoken by the chiefs that were present. The tarp that covered the pole was dropped with some minor difficulties to much oooing and awing. But the rain fell and people quickly retired to the warmth of the fire in the Big House where the celebrations continued.


raising3.gif (73690 bytes)raising4.gif (56634 bytes) Inside the Big House the artists were honored for their hard work and dedication. A project like this pole requires personal commitment as well as sacrifice. Long hours are spent working at designing, carving and painting a monumental piece. The pole depicts a Thunderbird sitting on the up turned tail of a killerwhale. It also symbolizes the history of interaction of the Whonnock and Henderson families, two of the strongest families of the Kwakwaka'wakw (Kwakiutl) people. The artists honor their grandfathers in the faces depicted on the chest of the Thunderbird and the tail of the Killerwhale.

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Proud Artists Johnathan Henderson and Sean Whonnock