Famed Swinomish totem pole stands tall again

The third time was indeed a charm for Swinomish Tribal Community members last week.

The replica Swinomish totem pole, crafted and installed as part of 1989 Washington State Centennial festivities, was put back in place last Wednesday morning after undergoing extensive revamping to erase effects from a generation of Pacific Northwest weather.

“It was a beautiful ceremony and a beautiful day,” said Swinomish Tribal Senate Chairman Brian Cladoosby. “I was blessed to witness this and be a part of it.”

Cladoosby was in the midst of a whirlwind week that would also see him root on the La Conner High girls’ basketball team at the Hardwood Classic in Spokane and deliver a speech in Seattle Friday endorsing the presidential campaign of Washington Gov. Jay Inslee.

Returning the landmark totem pole to its familiar spot in the heart of Swinomish Village was for Cladoosby and Tribal members a truly monumental event.

The pole had been carved and painted by the Paul family 30 years ago, based on the original Swinomish totem created by master carver Charlie Edwards in 1938 as a Works Progress Administration project during the presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

That pole had been the subject of nationwide attention when it was formally dedicated, in part because it bore the image of FDR, whose policies were seen as favorable to Native Americans.

On the main body of the original pole Edwards featured symbols telling the stories of the Swinomish and Samish tribes and their members.

The pole carved by Edwards stood until 1981. While that pole was removed after four decades due to time-induced structural issues, its distinctive icons were refurbished and mounted inside the Swinomish Tribal Community Social Services Building, where they remain today.

Swinomish senator and La Conner high faculty member Kevin Paul has had the unique opportunity to have been involved in both fashioning the replica pole and overseeing its recent refurbishment.

Paul, a widely acclaimed carver known locally as K.P., enlisted a new generation of Swinomish artisans to help restore the pole. They included good friends Zanetta Cayou and Naikiya Edwards, Paul’s former La Conner high students. Both are descendants of Charlie Edwards/

Their work earned high marks on Wednesday.

“You guys did a beautiful job,” said Swinomish Cultural Events Director Aurelia Bailey. “We’re so proud of you and your team. We witnessed the dedication and commitment that you put into a special part of Swinomish history.”

Lona Wilbur of Swinomish concurred.

“I know many hearts were touched and happy to see our totem pole raised back up for a third time,” she said.

Wilbur noted that Paul was witness to the original pole having been taken down, then joined those who shaped the replica pole, and has now participated in and supervised the second pole’s restoration.

She lauded Paul as a good steward of the pole.

“Kevin graciously embraced younger Swinomish along with him in this work,” Wilbur said, “as he had been with his late loved family members who originally carved this second Tribal pole.”

Cayou was thrilled to join Nakiya Edwards on the project, considering it a great honor, one to which she devoted much hard work and countless prayers and positive thoughts.

“I’m thankful for having been able to take Uncle K.P.’s carving class in high school,” Cayou said, “and was even more thankful about making history with my best friend.”