Culture Style: Nuu-chah-nulth The welcome figures, carved in the tradition of the Clayoquot, have arms that swivel at the shoulder. When positioned at the beach to welcome guests to a special event at the village, the welcome poles had their arms raised; when not in use, the arms were lowered to facilitate storage. The man wears the traditional knobbed hat of a high-ranking person, perhaps a whaling chief, while the woman wears the domed hat common among her people. Both wear skirts that in reality would have been made of inner cedar bark, softly shredded and finely woven. Examples of such clothing can be seen inside the museum, along with many other exhibits of early times.

These dramatic figures, which were originally commissioned to flank the entrance to the British Columbia pavilion at Expo 86 in Vancouver, stood near totem poles from other tribal groups.