gyảaGang (House Frontal Totem Pole)

The pole once stood at north end of the village, facing the beach, along a small bay on the east side of SGang Gwaay (Anthony) Island. It is the base of a pole that once fronted a house named “People Think of This House Even When They Sleep Because the Master Feeds Everyone Who Calls.” This remainder of pole, except the top figure, was burned when the village was burned in 1892, by the Koskimo and the crew of a sealing schooner. The pole was collected during a joint salvage expedition by the University of British Columbia and the 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

This beaver figure can be identified by its large incisor teeth, crosshatched tail, and human face at the tail joint. Beaver was one of crests owned by the lineage of Chief Ninstints (Tom Price), 'Those Born Up the Inlet', of the Eagle moiety.

Base section of a wooden totem pole, crescent shaped in cross section and carved in shallow and deep relief. Depicted is a seated beaver with one potlatch ring between erect ears; protruding upper incisors; raised forepaws and hind paws grasping chewing sticks. Below its rectangular shaped crosshatched tail is a human face with large circular eyes. Traces of blue in eye sockets and around nostrils.