Fianna Dickson, Communication Manager, Parks & Recreation, 509.625.6597
Wednesday, March 20, 2019 at 4:29 p.m.
The Inland Northwest Wildlife Council (formally the Inland Empire Big Game Council) will soon welcome back the colorful totem pole they commissioned and gifted to Riverfront Park.
INWC Totem Pole
As part of their 1976 Big Horn Show at the Convention Center, a telephone pole donated by Carney Poles was left over after a logging contest. Artists Michael Paul (Spokane) and Wobay Kipou (Algonquin) carved the totem in Riverfront Park.
The following year, it was installed by Washington Water Power on snxw meneɂ (formerly Canada Island). In 2010, it was repaired and repainted by Parks & Recreation.
The INWC would like to install the totem pole at their office (6116 N. Market) for all to see and enjoy. Soon, the pole will be removed from snxw meneɂ and transported to the INWC for installation.
Expo Totem Pole
As part of Expo ’74 on what was Canada Island, the Canadian Government gifted to the community a totem pole carved by the tribes of British Columbia. The artists are Charlie Frank (Penelakut Tribe) and Joe David (Tla-o-qui-aht Band of the Nuu-chah-nulth people), a well-known master-artist of the Northwest Coast.
The Spokane Tribe has expressed interest in keeping this totem pole on snxw meneɂ in recognition of the gift from Canada and a sharing of cultures.
