Tribe Centennial Totem Pole sent for cleaning

For the first time in almost forty years, the Swinomish Tribe lowered a well-known landmark on Friday: the 1989 Centennial Totem Pole.

The carving, created with Washington State Centennial funds, replicated the original totem carved in 1938 by Swinomish Tribal member Charlie Edwards and assistants.

The Tribe permanently lowered that first pole, which stood on the corner of Snee-oosh and Reservation roads for 45 years, in 1983 due to rot and insect damage to its base.

They then removed the carvings and respectfully restored them to hang in the Social Service building, where they may be seen today.

The 1989 pole will be cleaned and repainted by Tribal youth and once again remounted on its original base.

– Photo and text courtesy of Krista Hamburg and Theresa Trebon, Swinomish Tribal Archive