Totem Poles

Totem Poles are made by Native American Indians from giant cedar tree trunks and consist of carved animals, figures and symbols that tell of legends or historical events that have taken place in the lives of the Indigenous families or clans.

You will need:

Pens, crayons or paint
Either a cardboard tube, several tin cans or a carton
Cardboard or paper from a box or packaging
Egg boxes
Glue

Method

Totem Pole

1. Find a tube for the base of your totem pole, such as a kitchen roll, several tin cans that stack, or a carton. Plain tubes such as kitchen rolls will not need to be covered, but tin cans or a carton should be covered in brown (or any other colour) paper or cardboard and glued in place.

2. Cut up egg boxes to create the sculpted shapes of the eyes, beaks, ears, wings and other animal features to be added to the totem pole. Animals such as eagles, beavers, wolves, whales and frogs are often depicted on totem poles, but you can add any animals of your choice.

3. Arrange the cut out features and glue in place, allow to dry.

4. Use paints, pens or crayons to decorate your totem pole. Perhaps choose colours traditionally used by the Native American Indians, such as black, red, white, blue, green and yellow.

Here's a list of colours commonly used and their meanings:

Black: power
Red: blood or war
White: skies or heaven
Blue: rivers and lakes
Yellow: sun
Green: earth, trees, hills and mountains

Drawing a Totem Pole

1. Draw a tall long rectangle that fills your page. Divide your rectangle into 4 or 5 sections.

2. Choose which animals you would like to add to each section. Many totem poles have eagles at the top, though it's not essential. You could make your own family clan design with each animal representing a family member, or simply choose your favourite animals.

3. Sketch an animal in each section, then outline with a pen.

4. Colour each animal, either using the traditional Native American colours, or your own favourite colours.