Why are totem poles made who made them and when were they first made?
Nobody knows where totem poles originated from, because there is
no solid recorded evidence. All we can do is guess when they were
first made.
Many different cultures made totem poles, not just Native
Americans.
While poles made by Native American tribes are the most famously
known, the Mayans, Aztecs, Native Canadians, Native Australians,
Maori, ingenious Koreans and ingenious Chinese are also known to
have built totem poles.
Many of the poles tell a story, either of a battle, a great feat
or a popular legend. Erected for the people of the tribe and
visitors to see and remember the events carved into the pole.
They were often also used by Native Australian tribes and Maori
tribes to mark their territories, warning rival tribes that they
are entering their land, as well as to tell stories like most totem
poles.
Aztec and Mayan totem poles were carved from stone, mostly
limestone. The poles are carved with images or representations of
great battles and representations of Gods.
Ancient ingenious Chinese and Koreans erected small totems to
signify their obedience to their Gods and respect to their
ancestors.
Anybody who claims the Native Americans were the first to build
totem poles are actually incorrect. Truth is, we don't know where
they originated from. The empires of ancient China and ancient
Korea have existed long before the native Americans settled.