I took this picture at the Nessbitt State Courthouse.
Totem poles are very important to the Tlingit because totem poles mean almost every thing to them. The carving that is in the totem poles are like a symbol, sign and meaning. Totem poles were something like pictures and writing. It's a system for telling a legend and stories from one generation to another. A totem pole is like library for tribe. A totem pole can be as high as eighty feet tall . Totem poles usually have bears, raven, wolf, or other creatures like [thunderbird] or a sea serpent] . Then a chief is on the bottom. The way the Tlingits make the totem pole is first they cut down the tree they want then they put the tree on the thing that looks like a "y" to make it easier to carve. Then the wood carver comes and sits next to the log or on top of it. Then with his sharp objects like a knife or dagger he starts carving.
If you want to learn about making totem poles click on the picture. 
