Public Art Registry
Al of the Gispudwada (Black Bear Crest of the Killer Whale Tribe)
Photo: Heide Dobler
Al of the Gispudwada (Black Bear Crest of the Killer Whale Tribe) - photo by Heide Dobler
5251 Oak Street
VanDusen Botanical Garden
Near entrance
Gift
1976
red cedar
Totem pole
In place
City of Vancouver
Commemorative
Description of work
This Gitksan pole of red cedar was commissioned by the VanDusen Botanical Gardens Association. It incorporates the following figures and legend: human form at the top - a hunter who went into the mountains, was captured by a black bear, and assumed the bear form; human head in the top figure's stomach - a friendly villager who assisted "Bear Man" to resume his human form when everyone else abandoned him; the bear figure at bottom represents "Bear Man" before being turned back into human form; the human head in bear's stomach indicates that bear figure is "Bear Man" (from VanDusen Garden website)
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