Header - Thunder Bird Park

Title - Late Park

Gitxsan PoleThunderbird Park,1967.
BC Government photograph.
BC Archives I-21008.

Gitxsan Pole, 1954
Carvers: Mungo Martin, David Martin and Henry Hunt
Based on: Gitxsan Memorial Pole

The original pole was carved around 1900 in memory of a chief called Wistis and erected in Gitseguekla (Skeena Crossing) by the man who succeeded to his position. The figures are the crests of the chief’s family and refer to a famous house. Anthropology Curator Wilson Duff, who acquired the pole for the provincial museum in 1953 (RBCM 17367 a-c), believed that memorial poles carved by the Gitxsan were “the finest of their kind in existence.” Mungo Martin, David Martin and Henry Hunt paid careful attention to the distinctive Gitxsan style when they made this version.
RBCM 20123.

 

Gitxsan PoleThunderbird Park,1967.
BC Government photograph.
BC Archives I-21008.

Living Eagle, a mythical bird.
Uncarved length of pole.
Three Beings Across, shown twice to commemorate the six human faces that were carved on the house’s rafters.
Corner Post Figures, two human figures commemorating a former house that had human figures carved on the corner posts.

 

Gitxsan Pole circled in red with other poles in Thunderbird ParkThunderbird Park, 1967. BC Government photograph. BC Archives I-21008.
Gitxsan Pole circled in red with other poles in Thunderbird ParkThunderbird Park, 1977. Andrew Niemann photograph. RBCM PN 13195-13.
Gitxsan Pole Thunderbird Park, 1954.
BC Government photograph.
BC Archives I-26969.
Gitxsan Pole in situGitsequkla. RBCM PN 8971.
Gitxsan Pole in Thunderbird ParkThunderbird Park. RBCM PN 17574.
Close up of EagleThunderbird Park. RBCM PN 17574.
Close up of the upper set of Three Beings AcrossThunderbird Park. RBCM PN 17574.
Close up of the lower set of Three Beings AcrossThunderbird Park. RBCM PN 17574.
Close up of upper corner post figureThunderbird Park. RBCM PN 17574.
Close up of lower corner post figureThunderbird Park. RBCM PN 17574.
Back to Map