It’s hard to miss the more than 35 totem poles that grace the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe’s campus in Blyn, in Sequim, Port Angeles and even Port Townsend. While not open to the public, I recently had the opportunity to tour the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe’s House of Myths Carving Shed, located in Jamestown, Washington. It’s here that new totem poles are carved, and old ones are restored and refurbished.
All poles come from 500-900 year old red cedar, and are carved and painted by hand.
The House of Myths, named because they tell stories, myths and history of the Jamestown S’Klallm Tribe.
The bentwood boxes to the right are water tight and traditionally used for storage. Many of these bentwood boxes are used for inurnments at the Jamestown Cemetery.
All designs are submitted to and approved by the Tribal Council, after which meticulously scaled drawings are produced from which the carvings are done.
Links of Interest:
- House of Seven Generations – Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe Museum website
- Totem Poles of the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe – book about the creation of and the stories behind the cedar totem poles
- Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe – official website
