The Sitka Youth Kooteeyaa (Totem Pole) Project was a joint effort by the Sitka Tribe of Alaska and Pacific High School for high school students to create an original totem pole, from start to finish. In Spring 2004, three PHS students wrote a story for the pole to represent, and worked with Master Carver Tommy Joseph to create the design, which borders this page. This spring, five more students began carving the pole with Tommy, in part using adzes whose handles were made for the project by Blatchely Middle School students.
    The pole was raised on April 30th, 2005 in front of Pacific High School, and was carried by hand to the site on April 29th. Many thanks to everyone who helped make this project happen. It was the best school project ever!
    The following links will take you on a tour of the project and the students who are creating it. Thank you for looking, and Gunalchéesh!

   
Links back to this page.

Links to the story the pole is based on.

Links to photos and journals of the project.

Links to participant bios and funding sources.



Links to explanations of the figures on the pole and what they represent.