gyảaGang (House Frontal Totem Pole)

This pole once stood at the north end of the village on T’aanuu (Tanu) Island, before a dwelling named “Plenty of Tliman-Hides in this House,” which Haida histories record belonged to the clan named Those Born at Qadasgo Creek. The meaning of “tliman” is no longer known. The house timbers were still standing in 1947 according to Barbeau but had fallen by 1954. The pole was cut into four sections when it was removed and shipped from its original site.

The figures, on pole A50000 a-d, are from historical narratives owned by clans of the head of the house, a raven, and his wife, an eagle. Hatted figures at top are watchmen to warn of approaching danger. Carved figures, from base to top: Grizzly bear, with human wearing ringed hat (base of pole), Cormorant, with small human-like figure, Eagle (missing beak), with small human-like eagle, Three watchmen (top of pole).

Single wooden pole now in four sections (parts a-d). The sections are all crescent shaped in cross section and carved in shallow and deep relief. On the top (part b) is an eagle, wings with elaborate ovoid designs and talons curled into erect ears of bird on following section. Between the wings and talons is a small human figure with two feather-like forms above his head. The eagle’s beak is missing.