Raising the Haisla Totem in Kitimat, BC

This is the Haisla Totem raising on November 20th in Kitimat BC at Elizabeth Senior High School. The totem has an enormous level of importance to this community. For ever, this has been a community divided, and in many respects this continues, but the raising of the totem is an opening of a door that hopefully will be followed by inclusion of the Haisla peoples in the direction Kitimat takes in the future. "The design for the pole is the Raven and the Beaver. “In our community, we have four crests. We have Raven, Eagle, Beaver and Blackfish. In our community, when we put up a feast hall, the Beaver and Ravens work together when we put up a feast,” said Duncan." The first shots are of the gathering of the carriers and prayers. Then the men carrying in the totem. Lots of traditional regalia is seen. Then the carver, Nathan Wilson is to be seen blowing life into the pole. He is accompanied by two of his uncles. Then the totem is carried from the gymnasium to it final place. There are two video's too...look for the Haisla Totem tag