Talking Totems Stanley Park Indigenous Walking Tour

The iconic totem poles of Stanley Park embody many purposes and values that belong to our peoples. They present a rich and varied portrayal of the Northwest Coast Peoples and their art forms. Through them are carried the stories and worldviews of the Salish peoples: the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Səl̓ílwətaʔ (Tsleil-Waututh) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations, who have made this region their home since time immemorial. Each pole stands as a reflection of the goals and values that guide these communities, and reveals the depth and artistic diversity of the Northwest Coast, while keeping alive the memory of nations long rooted in this land.