23. Owl Pole - Khut Whee Mul Uhk (Dr. Francis Horne Sr.)

Описание: This pole was carved by Dr. Francis Horne Sr. and is called the Owl Pole. An owl stands vigil at the top, scanning the horizon. Beneath is a mother bear, speu'th, representing strength, hugging her child close in a protective embrace. The Owl is the Horne family crest, and represents wisdom. "Family crests are a fundamental part of the culture of most peoples of the Northwest Coast, and they frequently feature on totem poles, though in the art of the Coast Salish, the system of family crests was less prominent, and practice varied widely amongst the Salish peoples.

Totem poles, or house posts in the case of the Coast Salish, were typically commissioned by families to showcase their family history, stories, and crests. Historically, the poles were erected in front of a bighouse to affirm the lineage, prestige, and social rank of the occupants to an audience that was assumed to be well-versed in the culture and mythology of the Northwest Coast.

Every figure on a totem pole or house post is filled with multi-layered meaning, and every crest has a venerable story behind it. For the family that has rights to a crest, they are a great source of pride and honour. A family can have several crests, and they are passed down from generation to generation through the eldest son.

This is the first of five poles by Dr. Francis Horne Sr. that we will see on this tour. He is Coast Salish, and was born in 1954 to a Tsawout mother, from Saanich, and a Lummi father, from Washington state. Growing up on Vancouver Island, he began teaching himself to carve at the age of 18, and became a master carver over the course of a more than half-century long career. Four of his brothers became esteemed carvers in their own right. Two of them, Doug and Tom Lafortune, also carved poles seen on this tour.

[View this pole's entry on the City of Duncan's website.](https://duncan.ca/visitors/totems-tou...)"