1999 European Totem Tour

	Here stands a Nuxalk totem pole at the Berlin zoo, in Germany; in front of the buffalo cage. It represents over a century of our Nuxalk connection with the Germany public and it continues today. It was carved by “Nine Nuxalk” who visited and toured Germany in 1895-96 for approximately 13 months. The nine Nuxalk toured 22 cities: 1.Hamburg 2. Leipzig* 3. Dresden* 4. Chemnitz* 5. Zwickau* 6. Halle* 7. Eisleben* 8. Sangershausen* 9. Nordhausen* 10. Langensalza* 11. Muehlhausen* 12. Gotcha* 13. Erfurt* 14. Weimar* 15. Apolda* 16. Jena* 17. Naumburg* 18. Berlin 19. Koeln/Cologne 20. Aachen 21. Elberfeld 22. Krefeld (* cities in former East Germany) During our visit to Berlin in 1999; we took this picture of the ‘85/86 totem pole. As you can see, the colors were fading. It was during our “Totem Pole Tour of 1999; we were made aware of this special totem pole. It was a great discovery, a very spiritual event because we were not aware of this totem pole until July of 1999. Unknowingly, one- hundred & thirteen years later; we began carving another totem pole to tell the Nuxalk story. We were amazed to receive the notes of the “1895-96 Nuxalk Tour” from the Archives in Aachen. Hilke Thode-Arora’s book contains information of this tour. Further documentation is at: museums in Hamburg & Berlin; Jacobsen – Archives in “Volkukunde-museum.
	As you can see, the 1895-96 Nuxalk totem pole in the Berlin zoo now looks refreshed; because it was refurbished in year 2000. Hopefully, a summary of this totem pole can be posted to accompany it; so that the story can be told to visitors. It is looking great! The new Nuxalk totem pole carved in July, 1999 stands at the harbour in Hamburg today. It tells the story of the Nuxalk fighting to protect the forests at “Ista” and the largest remaining ancient temperate rainforest of the world which may be facing extinction.
	The Nuxalk totem pole of “Lady Ista” stands proudly in the harbour of Hamburg greeting the mornings. Giving a peaceful sign of greetings to everyone, and submitting the honour of welcome to everyone. The Nuxalk “Ista” totem pole was carved by Nuxalk carvers, Tla’ kuulth (Harry Schooner) and Suncwmay (Richard Schooner). The continued bondage with Germany evidently remains today. One of the original 9 Nuxalk who toured Germany in 1895-96 was named ‘Suncwmay’; recently, a direct descendant of his, carved and toured with a Nuxalk totem pole in the summer of 1999, his name was also “Suncwmay”. This June 17^th – July 24^th, 1999 totem pole tour in Germany called, ‘Manakays’ took us through 16 cities: 1. Hamburg 2. Rostock 3. Hannover 4. Duisburg 5. Dusseldorf 6. Cologne 7. Bonn 8. Frankfurt/Main 9. Mannheim 10. Stuttgart 11. Augsburg 12. Munchen 13. Wolfsburg 14. Leipzig 15. Dresden 16. Berlin During this tour; children from some of the cities learn to carve a totem pole of their own to share the stories and culture. We thank all those children for that; it lies in Vancouver, B.C. in storage for future raising. In this picture, K’puts, a singer-drummer, and dancer stands with Nuximlayc, the Nuxalk Head Hereditary Chief peering up to the right of the totem pole of “Ista” who on the top.
	The Nuxalk Totem pole ’99 is raised in front of the Greenpeace, Hamburg office in preparation to erect it directly behind the building facing the harbour. We thank Greenpeace, Germany for assisting us on the Nuxalk totem pole. It has been a great adventure, tour, and a story.
	The Nuxalk Totem pole of 1999 was transported by this truck & trailer equipped with a hydraulic hoist which could lift it; to make it stand on the sidewalk. A metal frame was mounted on the bottom to allow the totem pole to stand by itself. There is so much to be told about this tour, totem pole and the Nuxalk story.