The Native Americans believed that each animal had a spirit.These animals were used on totem poles because of their special talents and the stories they told. This chart is going to tell you about the animals.

Totem Pole Animals

/ Bear
Power, Adaptability /
  • Will turn into a human.
  • A caring figure.
  • He will always get revenge on you.
  • Does not like humans and will kill them from time to time.
  • Bear has large paws and sometimes a protruding tongue and is one who can transform into human form.
  • He must not be insulted

/ Beaver
Builder, Gather /
  • Will dig holes underground that cause earthquakes and landslides.
  • Builder, strong sense of family and home
  • Resourceful using alternate ways of doing tasks.
  • Master builder of all things
  • Understanding dynamics of group work
  • Builder of dreams, shaping, structure

/ Eagle
Divine spirit, Connection to creator /
  • He is the ruler of the sky.
  • Part of Thunderbirds group.
  • From time to time will turn into a human dancer.

/ Frog
Connection with Water element /
  • Much misunderstood and when enemies see him they think there is a road to easy street.
  • Very rich.
  • Can survive volcano.

/ Hawk
Messenger,Stopper of time /
  • Will make itself into Hawk man or Hawk woman.
  • He hates Mosquito thinks a lot of himself.
  • If you are in need of help, he will come.

/ Owl
Wisdom, Perseverance /
  • Owl can always be recognized by his distinctive eyes.
  • Owls were often feared and associated with death.
  • But though ever watchful with eyes that never closed and solitary, Owl still was often outwitted by the resourceful Raven who stole the fire from him to give to man.

/ Raven
Trickster, Mischievous /
  • Very powerful.
  • A trickster that no one can beat.
  • A scavenger for food.
  • Very curious.
  • Will misbehave and is mischievous.

/ Thunderbird
Caller of Rain /
  • Scares humans who interrupts him.
  • Has his own fights beyond humans.
  • Eats the whale.
  • Will come to human dance parties.

/ Whale
Wisdom, Power, Cleanser /
  • He owns his own under water city that has mysterious beings living there.
  • He is not friends with the Thunderbird and will turn into a wolf from time to time.

/ Wolf
Loyalty, Success, Perseverance /
  • Very powerful and does not like humans
  • Is able to help heal humans that are sick.
  • When he feels like he will turn into a whale.
  • Teacher, pathfinder on the journey of survival

Totem Pole Colors

The Indians originally used pigments made from clay and roots. The colors were very bright and faded a bit after the pole had weathered several winters. The symbolism of the colors changed a little in different parts of the United States. The following only a general meaning to the main colors.

White /
  • White is used, along with other light colors, as a background and predominating shade.
  • As a rule it symbolized the skies and spacious heavens.
  • It also stood for purity, peace, and death

Red /
  • Generally Red stands for blood, war or valor.
  • Sometimes it is used as appears in nature, such as the crest of a red-headed woodpecker, the scarlet tanager or frequently the tongue of an animal.

Blue /
  • Blue was most commonly used as the symbol for the rivers, waters, and lakes, also the skies.
  • Certain tribes even used used it for mountains in the distance.
  • Blue stands for sincerity and happiness.
  • Berries formed a large portion of the natural materials for this color.

Yellow /
  • Yellow reflects the symbol of the sun, light and happiness.
  • The natural abundant materials made Yellow a very popular and predominating color.
  • Clays, tree moss, roots, and tannic barks furnished the natives with dyes.

Green /
  • It may easily be realized that Green represents the earth, the hills, the trees, and mountains, so common in all Indian legends.
  • Green is made by mixing two primary colors, Yellow and Blue, or it may be made from simple acid action on copper.
  • In certain sections of the west and northwest copper was rather abundant.
  • Other parts of the country used the juice of grasses

Purple /
  • Purple stood for mountains in the distance and general conventionalized signs
  • Huckleberries give a very good substance for dyeing, and the Indians commonly used them to make Purple.
  • Purple is an excellent color for recessed portions of the carving and for symbols of a reverent nature.

Black /
  • As a rule, Black stood for power
  • Mud from sulphur springs and other earth deposits made Black available to the Indian.