Manitoba Legislature’s Totem Pole Removed After 53 Years

A totem pole that stood on the grounds of the Manitoba legislature for over 50 years has been taken down.

The five-metre-high pole, unveiled in 1971 to commemorate British Columbia’s 100th anniversary of joining Confederation, was crafted by Henry Hunt, a renowned First Nations carver from coastal B.C. The pole tells a legend of the Indigenous peoples from the West Coast.

The Manitoba government explained that the pole had deteriorated over time, prompting its removal. In line with Indigenous tradition, it will now be placed in a raised planter bed, where it will naturally decay and return to the earth.

Premier Wab Kinew emphasized that honoring traditional Indigenous cultures is a vital part of reconciliation efforts.