RINCE RUPERT, B.C. — Eighty-eight-year-old Nancy Dudoward smiled as she sat on the Raven totem pole as it was welcomed home to the West Coast after almost a century towering over Jasper.
Dudoward had never before seen the pole, and never met the great-grandfather who carved it about 140 years ago.
“I think mom wanted to cry,” said Dudoward’s daughter, Joan, who climbed up with her daughter Natasha for a photograph.
The pole originally stood in a village on Haida Gwaii, off the north coast of British Columbia, but was acquired in 1919 by the Canadian Steamship Company and brought to Jasper, where it was installed the following year.
For 93 years the totem pole stood tall over the community but in April 2009 it was determined the pole needed to be taken down because of rot. It was then that Parks Canada began working with the Haida Nation to have the pole repatriated to the B.C. islands.
“I have to take my hat off to Parks Canada for such a leading and diplomatic approach,” said Vince Collison, who helped co-ordinate the project for the Haida.
Between Parks Canada and the Haida there has been a concentrated effort to piece together the history of the pole.
“It opens up the door to educate people about who we are and that our culture is thriving,” Collison said.
The totem pole began the final leg of its journey home last week in Prince Rupert, where the display attracted local members of the Haida community, tourists off a cruise ship and other interested spectators. It is travelling with interpretive historical photographs and information.
Lori Dowling of Parks Canada, who has been in charge of the project, said the response was great, and she was surprised at the emotion around the departure of the pole from Jasper.
“Many people in Jasper came out to say goodbye to the pole. It was apparent that lots of people have an attachment to it,” Dowling said.
Rodney Brown of Old Massett, on Haida Gwaii, travelled with the pole for two days on the railway journey from the Rockies to the West Coast, as the Haida Ambassador for the repatriation journey.
“Tuesday was my first time seeing the pole and I immediately sensed its connection and history with the Haida people. There were a lot of emotions in Jasper about it leaving, but we reassured them it’s coming to a good place and they were happy for us that it’s coming home,” he said.
It’s tour over, the pole has been taken to Old Massett, on Haida Gwaii, where it will be allowed to be reclaimed by the land. A feast for 700 people has been planned and six new 10-foot poles are to be raised in the area in its place.
“It’s time to let it go. It’s life has ended and it can drop where it should,” said Tsimshian carver Gerald Stewart.
Brothers Gwaii and Jaalen Edenshaw of Old Massett are carving a new pole for Jasper that will be completed and installed in the park in 2011.