Header - Thunder Bird Park

Title - Late Park

Kwakwaka’wakw PoleThunderbird Park. Wilson Duff photograph, 1955? RBCM PN 13943.

Kwakwaka’wakw Pole, 1954 
Carvers: Mungo Martin, David Martin and Henry Hunt
Based on: Kwakwaka’wakw
(Gusgimaxw) House Post

The original house post was raised at the Gusgimaxw village of Xwatis in Quatsino Sound around 1870 and was collected by Charles F. Newcombe in 1913. It stood on the grounds of Government House in Victoria for many years before being transferred to Thunderbird Park in 1941 (RBCM 1854). In 1954 the pole was copied by Mungo Martin; he was assisted by his son David Martin, and Henry Hunt, who was married to Martin’s adopted daughter.
RBCM 20120.

Close up of Cannibal BirdThunderbird Park, 1969. BC Government photograph. RBCM PN 12988-10.
 Huxwhukw, the Cannibal Bird, is a crest obtained by the owner through marriage to a Kingcome Inlet woman. The wings and beak were missing when Newcombe purchased the original house post. New ones had been added by the time it was erected in Thunderbird Park in 1941 and these also appear in the new version made in 1954. Now there is a disc in the bird’s beak, a motif usually associated with Raven, who stole the sun.
Close up of K'umugwe, Chief of the SeaThunderbird Park, 1969. BC Government photograph. RBCM PN 12988-10.
 K´umugwe, Chief of the Sea, who lives in a wealth-filled house under the water that is guarded by sea lions.

Close up of Grizzly BearThunderbird Park, 1969. BC Government photograph. RBCM PN 12988-10.
 Grizzly Bear with a Copper in its mouth, eating or breaking the Copper. A Copper is a symbol of wealth.





Whale, with the Grizzly Bear’s paw in its mouth. Perhaps the Grizzly Bear is carrying the Whale.

Kwakwaka’wakw Pole with museum in the backgroundThunderbird Park, 1969. BC Government photograph.
RBCM PN 12988-10.
Kwakwaka’wakw Pole in situXwatis, 1904. Charles F. Newcombe photograph.
RBCM PN 335.
Kwakwaka’wakw Pole with other totem polesThunderbird Park. BC Government photograph.
RBCM PN 13945.
Kwakwaka’wakw Pole with the museum in the backgroundThunderbird Park, 1969. BC Government photograph.
RBCM PN 12988-8.
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