Even if you didn’t know that the world’s tallest totem pole was erected in Alert Bay, BC in 1973, and that it was even recognized as such by the Guinness Book of World Records, you’re probably not going to be happy to learn that it had to be permanently removed yesterday, September 9, 2026.
Representing multiple Kwakwaka'wakw bands, it once stood at 173 feet tall and was constructed by chief carver Jimmy Dick and a crew of five others. I told you about it in THIS quick video back in 2024.
As Vancouver Island photographer Geoff Heith put it in THIS video he made showing the pole being taken down, time has not been kind to it. Wind, salt, etc caused it to decay, making it a safety hazard. So the Namgis nation made the wise decision to take it down.
Totems aren’t meant to be permanent fixtures, and the wonderful news is that there’s a plan in the works to replace it with what might be an even more impressive work.
I’ll keep you posted as it gets constructed, and will hopefully make it out to Alert Bay on Cormorant Island to see its installation. ❤️
