Shame.2Fridicule pole Totem pole

seward pole

one famous shame pole seward pole @ saxman totem park in saxman, alaska. created shame former u.s. secretary of state william h. seward not reciprocating courtesy or generosity of tlingit hosts following potlatch given in honor. intent of pole indicated figure s red-painted nose , ears symbolized seward s stinginess.

another example of shame pole 3 frogs pole on chief shakes island, @ wrangell, alaska. pole erected chief shakes shame kiks.ádi clan repaying debt incurred support of 3 kiks.ádi women allegedly cohabiting 3 slaves in shakes s household. when kiks.ádi leaders refused pay support women, shakes commissioned pole carvings of 3 frogs, represented crest of kiks.ádi clan. not known if debt ever repaid. pole stands next chief shakes tribal house in wrangell. pole s unique crossbar shape has become popularly associated town of wrangell, , continues used part of wrangell sentinel newspaper s masthead.

in 1942, u.s. forest service commissioned pole commemorate alexander baranof, russian governor , russian american company manager, civilian works project. pole s original intent commemorate peace treaty between russians , tlingits governor helped broker in 1805. george benson, sitka carver , craftsman, created original design. completed version stood in totem square in downtown sitka, alaska. when benson , other sitka carvers not available work, u.s. forest service had ccc workers carve pole in wrangell, alaska. because sitka , wrangell native groups rivals, has been argued wrangell carvers may have altered benson s original design. unknown reasons, wrangell carvers depicted baranov figure without clothes. following sitka tribe of alaska-sponsored removal ceremony, pole lowered due safety concerns on october 20, 2010, using funds alaska dept. of health , social services. sitka sentinel reported while standing, said photographed totem [pole] in alaska . pole re-erected in totem square in 2011.

on march 24, 2007, shame pole erected in cordova, alaska, includes inverted , distorted face of former exxon ceo lee raymond. pole represents unpaid debt on $5 million in punitive damages federal court in anchorage, alaska, determined exxon owes role in causing exxon valdez oil spill in prince william sound.