Welcome back: Totem pole raised during elementary school ceremony

At La Conner Elementary, it isn’t just back to school time for students and staff.

The iconic campus totem pole has also returned.

A large crowd gathered around the school’s parking circle last Wednesday to witness re-installation of its near quarter-century old signature landmark, which was refurbished over the summer by master carver and Swinomish Indian Tribal Community Senator Kevin Paul.

The project was especially meaningful for Paul, who had joined his late father and brother, Alex Paul, Sr. and Alex Paul, Jr., in carving the pole in the 1990s.

“They were a big part of putting this totem...