Free Printable Totem Pole Crafts

In Anadarko, Oklahoma, there is a tourist attraction called Indian City U.S.A. At Indian City U.S.A., there are different styles of totem poles found here made by Indian natives from tribes that live in this area. This is where I first saw a totem pole in person.

Each tribe's version of a totem pole has a meaning for each of the faces or characters found on them. Each totem pole has a story to tell through the carvings that the owner of the totem pole has carved. 

In many cases, animals depict a certain story of the beliefs from the tribe the owner/carver wants to used to tell his story of his time. Each animal holds a place in the beliefs in tribal nations. Not all of the animals will hold the same meaning to each of the tribes or the carver of the totem pole.

You will find fake totem poles amongst the real totem poles. For a totem pole to be considered the real deal, it will need to be sanctioned. It will need to be made by a trained Northwest Coast native person or an apprentice who is approved by a Northwest Coast Tribe. The totem poles will need to be raised. Once they are raised, they blessed by Northwest Coast elders or natives.

Yucky Totem Poles

Create a totem pole from boxes, construction paper, markers, and other items around the home. This should be a totem pole that is fun for the kids to make.

Totem Pole Craft

A totem pole that won't take up much space in any kid's room. This totem pole is made from items around the home.

Mini Totem Poles

This totem pole is different than the one above even though it uses toilet paper or paper towel roll tubes.

Clay Pot Totem Pole

The clay pot totem pole is made using the small, clay pots. It can be used as a paper clip holder in a home office.

Totem poles such as the craft ones listed above would be considered fake because the do not follow the totem pole rules set down by the Northwest Coast Tribes. Also, they are not sanctioned or raised and blessed in the traditional method for totem poles. The tree carved totem poles made by using a chain saw are also considered fake for the same reasons.