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Historic totem raising

For the first time in 100 years, new totem poles went up in the Burns Lake area.
Historic totem raising
For the first time in 100 years


For the first time in 100 years, new totem poles went up in the Burns Lake area.

On May 31, 2013, after a day of celebrations, the totems were raised at the newly built Wet’suwet’en First Nation(WFN) Necigeh Beyikh Health Centre on the WFN reserve west of Burns Lake.

Peter George and Ben Gerow had been working on the two totems and head piece since last February, 2013. Carvings on the totems represent local hereditary clans of the Wet’suwet’en;  the grizzly, grouse, caribou and beaver clans with the cross piece carved with frog clan symbolization.“The raising of these totems shows the strength of the community,” said George. “Our culture and traditions are coming back. This is a part of the way to tell that story.”