六月原住民月 2：圖騰柱小百科

2026-06-24 (星期三)

2026-06-24 (星期三)

六月是加拿大原住民歷史月，除了欣賞圖騰柱的外形和色彩，我們也可以從中認識加拿大西岸原住民的歷史、信仰與文化記憶。

「Totem」一字來自北美原住民語言，意思大約與「他的親屬」有關；中文「圖騰」一詞則約始見於 1903 年。而圖騰廣泛存在於世界不同文化之中。當一個族群相信某種動物、植物或自然力量與自己的氏族有特殊關係，並視之為祖先、守護者或身份象徵，這便可理解為圖騰。

北美洲西北岸原住民何時開始把圖騰雕刻在木柱上，至今其實仍難以完全確定。有學者推測，1741 年俄羅斯探險家白令在阿拉斯加所見的原住民屋柱雕刻，可能就是後來圖騰柱的早期雛形。圖騰柱並不是單純的裝飾品。它可以用來劃定界線、守護地方、迎接賓客，也可以記錄氏族盛事、講述起源神話、歌頌家族或成員的成就。有些圖騰柱與紀念酋長、巫師或重要人物有關。

June is National Indigenous History Month in Canada. It is a good time to know more about Indigenous cultures, histories, and traditions. Totem poles are one of the most well-known symbols of Indigenous Peoples on the West Coast. They are not just decorations. They tell stories about families, clans, ancestors, nature, and spiritual beliefs.

A totem is usually an animal, plant, or natural symbol that has a special meaning to a clan or community. Common symbols on totem poles include the Thunderbird, Raven, Killer Whale, Bear, Frog, and Beaver. Totem poles can have many purposes. They may welcome visitors, protect a place, mark important locations, record family history, or remember important leaders and events.

圖騰柱一般多以紅雪松或黃雪松雕成，常見高度約十二米。早期雕刻工具包括石頭、貝殼、動物骨頭或牙齒，後來因金屬工具傳入而變得更精細。傳統顏色多以黑色、紅色、銅綠色及白色為主。例如 Haida 圖騰柱常見大眼、曲線交織和柱頂「哨兵」；Kwakiutl 圖騰柱則以深雕刻、鮮明色彩和強烈造型見稱。此外，圖騰柱上的圖案通常都具有象徵意義。雷鳥 Thunderbird 常代表天空與力量；烏鴉 Raven 被視為帶來光明與智慧的重要角色；殺人鯨 Killer Whale 象徵海洋力量；熊 Bear 代表力量、親族與轉化；青蛙 Frog 則常與大地、幸運和不同世界的連結有關。

如果大家下次在溫哥華、溫哥華島或卑詩北岸旅行時見到圖騰柱，不妨停下腳步細看一下。每一個動物、每一條線條、每一種顏色，背後都可能藏著一段關於土地、氏族、祖先與自然世界的故事。六月原住民月，正是一個很好的開始，讓我們不只是「看見」圖騰柱，也嘗試更尊重地理解它們所承載的文化與歷史。

文: 文楓

Most totem poles are carved from cedar wood. Different Indigenous groups have their own carving styles. For example, Haida poles often have large eyes and flowing lines, while Kwakiutl poles are known for bright colours and deep carving. Moreover, each animal or figure on a totem pole has meaning. Thunderbird often represents power. Raven is connected to light and wisdom. The killer whale represents the ocean. Bear symbolizes strength. The frog is linked to luck and the earth.

However, when you see a totem pole in Vancouver, Vancouver Island, or northern British Columbia, take a closer look. Every line, colour, and figure may carry a story about the land, family, ancestors, and nature.

Written by: Victor