Totem pole

A totem pole is a tall, wooden carving made by the Native American tribes in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States and Canada.

Imagine a really big wooden stick, but instead of just being a plain stick, it has lots of animals and people carved into it from the bottom to the top. The animals and people represent different things like family members, important events, or stories from the tribe's history.

The totem pole is usually made out of a type of tree called the Western Red Cedar, which is very tall and strong. The carvings are done by hand using special tools like knives and chisels. It can take many months or even years to make a totem pole because it's such a big and detailed project.

Totem poles are very important to many Native American tribes because they are a way to tell stories and keep their history and traditions alive. They might also be used as a symbol of the tribe or a way to honor important tribe members or cultural figures.

Today, you can still see totem poles in some Native American communities, as well as in museums and other cultural displays. Even though they might look like just a big wooden stick with animals on it, totem poles are actually very meaningful and symbolic to the people who make and use them.