gyảaGang (House Frontal Totem Pole)

Stood at north end of village facing the beach along a small bay on the east side of SGang Gwaay (Anthony) Island. Stood outside against the centre of front wall of a small unnamed house. (Wilson Duff and Mike Kew thought it might have been the mortuary house of Chief Ninstints, but George MacDonald thought that was unlikely.)

The pole once stood at the north end of the village, facing the beach, along a small bay on the east side of SGang Gwaay (Anthony) Island. SGang Gwaay had been abandoned around the 1880's, but the pole was still intact in 1901, at which time it had, from the top down: a separate eagle; a three ringed hat; a supernatural snag; and a whale. The pole was collected during a joint salvage expedition by the University of British Columbia and British Columbia Provincial Museum. The following people assisted with this expedition: Smyly, John; Atkins, Bernard; Reid, Bill; Duncan, Kelly; Jones, Roy; Jones, Clarence; Jones, Frank.

status

Base portion of a totem pole, crescent shaped in cross-section, carved in shallow and deep relief. Seated grizzly bear, with a partial human face between its squared, erect ears; curled nostrils; upturned mouth holds hindquarters of a frog which hangs between the bear's upright human hands with four fingers folded over each palm. A human face wearing a two ringed hat appears between bear's legs. Faint traces of light blue are apparent in eye socket areas, red in nostrils, and black on pupils.