Ketchikan in Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska — Northwest (North America)

The Easter Totem Pole

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 26, 2024

1. The Easter Totem Pole Marker

Inscription.

The Easter Totem Pole. . 500 yr. old cedar from Ketchikan, Alaska carved after ancient Tsimshian culture, By David K. Fison (Nadáam 'Nłomsk) of the Tsimshian Killer Whale Clan Anchorage, Alaska April 28, 2001 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Completed in 2001 The original Pole took 3 years to carve . Rev. David Fison served as pastor of the Duncan Memorial Church in Metlakatla and this Methodist Church from 1961 to 1966., In the absence of a written language totem poles were the nearest thing to books. The Northwest Coast Indians preserved their stories and events on erected carved cedar logs. The characters provided an outline, so that after hearing the story, the listeners could retell the story for generations., Encouraged by Tsimpsian Elders Rev. Fison carved a Christmas Totem and an Easter Totem as he imagined a carver might have 250 years ago. Since parts of the Biblical account would not have been familiar to the ancient Indians of the rainforest, he "translated" the story to be relevant to their culture., The story reads from the bottom to the top This easter totem is a replica of the original Ketchikan cedar pole, which graces the sanctuary of the Saint John United Methodist Church in Anchorage.. , [Left side of totem pole, top to bottom (as marker reads)] . Burial Cave, Sealed and Guarded, . Two Crosses (Jesus Between Two Thieves), . Jesus, Chief of The Jew Clan, . Beaver Teeth Gambling Dice, . Jesus Blanket (Made of Inner Bark Of A Cedar), . Fists Demand Jesus' Death, . Jesus's Followers All Run Away, . Young Man Escapes With No Clothes, . Jesus Heals The Ear That Peter Wounds, . The Judas Kiss, . Sleeping Disciples, . A Clearing In The Forest (Gethsamane), . Jesus Followers At Last Supper, . Peter says, "You Shall Not Wash My Feet", [Center of totem pole, top to bottom (as marker reads)] . A Double Symbol Of The Sun Frames Jesus' Head, . Triple Hands (The Trinity), . Raven (Angel) Messenger For The Great Chief Of The Heavens, . The Empty Cave With Earthquake Fault, . Hat Of Devil's Club (Crown Of Thorns), . Jesus Is Pegged to The Cross (No Iron Nails), . Chief Pilate Washing His Hands, . Wolf Howls (They Had No Rooster To Crow), . Peter Weeps When He Hears The Wolf Howl, . Judas Wears 30 Shells (They Had No Silver, Some Shells Were Money), . Jesus Praying Hands Accepting The Cup Of Suffering, . Jesus At Last Supper With A Ladle Of Berry Juice Holding Smoked Salmon (Nearest Food To Bread; No Grains in a rain forest), . Jesus Girded With A Towel, Has Washed Their Feet, [Right side of totem pole, top to bottom (as marker reads)] . Two Marys Come To The Cave At Dawn (Women Wore Labrat In Their Lower Lip), . Spear Wound, . John, With Jesus' Mother And a Friend Weep At Cross, . Whips Used On Jesus, . Jesus' Hands Are Bound, . Finger Points To Peter, . Peter Warms Self By A Fire, . Torch, Knife and Rope To Arrest Jesus, . Peter, James and John Asleep, . Judas Says "Am I The One?, . Drum Used With Singing, The Easter Totem Pole by David K. Fison. My friend, behold the carving! Now open up your soul and you will hear the story of the Easter totem pole., Now I've carved this sacred story after the ancient Tsimshian; using only what they knew then, in terms they would understand., Smoked salmon was their bread; for the grains in a rain forest will not grow. And let it be the howl of wolf, for they had no cock to crow., Great Chief of the Heavens was their Creator's name and Raven was his messenger. Now the story I proclaim!, At a memorial potlatch Jesus and the twelve did meet. To teach them to be humble, He washes his followers' feet., "Tonight, one of you will betray me." Then Peter vows his loyalty! "Before wolf howls tonight, you'll deny you even know me.", He blesses and breaks smoked salmon; "Eat! It's my body given for you!" Berry juice is blessed and passed; "Drink of this, all of you!", "It's my blood of a new treaty; for the forgiveness of sins, you see! As oft as you do this, do it to remember me!", They sing and drum a sacred song, as into the forest they walk. "Stay awake and watch with me; for with Great Chief I must talk.", He accepts the cup of suffering and in sorrow he does weep. His friends could not stay awake; they all just fell asleep., Judas, wearing thirty shells, now greets Him with a kiss. Armed men then lay hold of Him "Judas, I knew you would do this.", Then Peter begins to fight and cuts off one man's ear! Jesus heals the wounded man; "Peter! Get away from here!", When his friends all run away He knows his time is nigh. They take him to their leaders, to be condemned to die., Peter has followed at a distance; then up to a fire he ran. Three times accused, "You're with him!" He says, "I don't know the man.", Then Peter hears the howl of wolf. He weeps and runs away. Judas throws back those thirty shells, and hanged himself that day., They take him to Chief Pilate because they want him dead. The Chief wants to free him. They demand his death instead., Chief washes his hands saying, "I'm not to blame today; This is your doing, not mine!" and lets them have their way., They mock Him and they whip Him and a devil's club hat apply. They peg Him to a cedar cross, and hang Him to die., They gamble for His blanket; beaver teeth dice they threw. He says, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.", He sees his mother weeping and places her in John's care. One on a cross beside Him, He comforts as with prayer., He suffers for the longest time; then finally He cries out, "My work is finished, O Great Chief!" and He dies with a shout., Friend Joseph asks for His body; a spear makes sure He's dead. He's wrapped in a cedar blanket. A cave is His burial bed, With huge stones, the cave is sealed His fearful enemies say, "Guards must now be placed there to keep his friends away!", Great Chief of the Heavens sends Raven that third day. The ground shakes violently; stones and guards both fall away!, At dawn, two fearful Marys come. Raven says, "Do not be afraid!" I know you're seeking Jesus. Come and see where He was laid!", "Now go and tell his followers He is risen from the dead! They'll see Him when they gather at the mountain where he said.", When they gathered at the mountain, the risen Savior they see, surrounded by the shining sun; "Light of the World” is He!, His arms reach out toward them, a Trinity of heavenly helping hands. His followers fall down in worship, awaiting His commands., Jesus tells of a promise, "All power is given me! Soon, you'll have the Holy Spirit, and my witnesses you'll be.", "Make followers of all tribes; go then and baptize, too. Teach them to obey everything that I have asked of you.", "and I will be with you always to the end of all things!" He lifts His hands and blesses them and is taken as with wings., Now there were other appearances of our risen Savior, you know; on the lakeshore and other places, they are not carved on this pole., But this is carved that you may know, our risen Savior does remain, and believing in Him, we have eternal life in His name, So keep Him as your Chief, my friend and he shall keep you whole. This fulfills the purpose of the Easter totem pole.

500 yr. old cedar from Ketchikan, Alaska
carved after ancient Tsimshian culture

By David K. Fison (Nadáam 'Nłomsk)
of the Tsimshian Killer Whale Clan
Anchorage, Alaska April 28, 2001
—————————————————————
Completed in 2001
The original Pole took 3 years to carve

Rev. David Fison served as pastor of the Duncan Memorial Church in Metlakatla and this Methodist Church from 1961 to 1966.

In the absence of a written language totem poles were the nearest thing to books. The Northwest Coast Indians preserved their stories and events on erected carved cedar logs. The characters provided an outline, so that after hearing the story, the listeners could retell the story for generations.

Encouraged by Tsimpsian Elders Rev. Fison carved a Christmas Totem and an Easter Totem as he imagined a carver might have 250 years ago. Since parts of the Biblical account would not have been familiar to the ancient Indians of the rainforest, he "translated" the story to be relevant to their culture.

The story reads from the bottom to the top
This easter totem is a replica of the original Ketchikan cedar pole, which graces the sanctuary

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of the Saint John United Methodist Church in Anchorage.

[Left side of totem pole, top to bottom (as marker reads)]
• Burial Cave, Sealed & Guarded

• Two Crosses (Jesus Between Two Thieves)

• Jesus, Chief of The Jew Clan

• Beaver Teeth Gambling Dice

• Jesus Blanket (Made of Inner Bark Of A Cedar)

• Fists Demand Jesus' Death

• Jesus's Followers All Run Away

• Young Man Escapes With No Clothes

• Jesus Heals The Ear That Peter Wounds

• The Judas Kiss

• Sleeping Disciples

• A Clearing In The Forest (Gethsamane)

• Jesus Followers At Last Supper

• Peter says, "You Shall Not Wash My Feet"

[Center of totem pole, top to bottom (as marker reads)]
• A Double Symbol Of The Sun Frames Jesus' Head

• Triple Hands (The Trinity)

• Raven (Angel) Messenger For The Great Chief Of The Heavens

• The Empty Cave With Earthquake Fault

• Hat Of Devil's Club (Crown Of Thorns)

• Jesus Is Pegged to The Cross (No Iron Nails)

• Chief Pilate Washing His Hands

• Wolf Howls (They Had No Rooster To Crow)

• Peter Weeps When He Hears The Wolf Howl

• Judas Wears 30 Shells (They Had No Silver, Some Shells Were Money)

• Jesus

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 26, 2024

2. The Easter Totem Pole Marker

Praying Hands Accepting The Cup Of Suffering

• Jesus At Last Supper With A Ladle Of Berry Juice Holding Smoked Salmon (Nearest Food To Bread; No Grains in a rain forest)

• Jesus Girded With A Towel, Has Washed Their Feet

[Right side of totem pole, top to bottom (as marker reads)]
• Two Marys Come To The Cave At Dawn (Women Wore Labrat In Their Lower Lip)

• Spear Wound

• John, With Jesus' Mother And a Friend Weep At Cross

• Whips Used On Jesus

• Jesus' Hands Are Bound

• Finger Points To Peter

• Peter Warms Self By A Fire

• Torch, Knife & Rope To Arrest Jesus

• Peter, James & John Asleep

• Judas Says "Am I The One?

• Drum Used With Singing

The Easter Totem Pole
by David K. Fison
My friend, behold the carving!
Now open up your soul
and you will hear the story
of the Easter totem pole.

Now I've carved this sacred story
after the ancient Tsimshian;
using only what they knew then,
in terms they would understand.

Smoked salmon was their bread;
for the grains in a rain forest will not grow.
And let it be the howl of wolf,
for they had no cock to crow.

Great Chief of the Heavens
was their Creator's

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 26, 2024

3. The Easter Totem Pole Marker

name
and Raven was his messenger.
Now the story I proclaim!

At a memorial potlatch
Jesus and the twelve did meet.
To teach them to be humble,
He washes his followers' feet.

"Tonight, one of you will betray me."
Then Peter vows his loyalty!
"Before wolf howls tonight,
you'll deny you even know me."

He blesses and breaks smoked salmon;
"Eat! It's my body given for you!"
Berry juice is blessed and passed;
"Drink of this, all of you!"

"It's my blood of a new treaty;
for the forgiveness of sins, you see!
As oft as you do this,
do it to remember me!"

They sing and drum a sacred song,
as into the forest they walk.
"Stay awake and watch with me;
for with Great Chief I must talk."

He accepts the cup of suffering
and in sorrow he does weep.
His friends could not stay awake;
they all just fell asleep.

Judas, wearing thirty shells,
now greets Him with a kiss.
Armed men then lay hold of Him
"Judas, I knew you would do this."

Then Peter begins to fight
and cuts off one man's ear!
Jesus heals the wounded man;
"Peter! Get away from here!"

When his friends all run away
He knows his time is nigh.
They take him to

The Easter Totem Pole and Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 26, 2024

4. The Easter Totem Pole and Markers

their leaders,
to be condemned to die.

Peter has followed at a distance;
then up to a fire he ran.
Three times accused, "You're with him!"
He says, "I don't know the man."

Then Peter hears the howl of wolf.
He weeps and runs away.
Judas throws back those thirty shells,
and hanged himself that day.

They take him to Chief Pilate
because they want him dead.
The Chief wants to free him.
They demand his death instead.

Chief washes his hands saying,
"I'm not to blame today;
This is your doing, not mine!"
and lets them have their way.

They mock Him and they whip Him
and a devil's club hat apply.
They peg Him to a cedar cross,
and hang Him to die.

They gamble for His blanket;
beaver teeth dice they threw.
He says, "Father, forgive them,
they know not what they do."

He sees his mother weeping
and places her in John's care.
One on a cross beside Him,
He comforts as with prayer.

He suffers for the longest time;
then finally He cries out,
"My work is finished, O Great Chief!"
and He dies with a shout.

Friend Joseph asks for His body;
a spear makes sure He's dead.
He's wrapped in a cedar blanket.
A cave is His

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 26, 2024

5. The Easter Totem Pole and Markers

burial bed

With huge stones, the cave is sealed
His fearful enemies say,
"Guards must now be placed there
to keep his friends away!"

Great Chief of the Heavens
sends Raven that third day.
The ground shakes violently;
stones and guards both fall away!

At dawn, two fearful Marys come.
Raven says, "Do not be afraid!"
I know you're seeking Jesus.
Come and see where He was laid!"

"Now go and tell his followers
He is risen from the dead!
They'll see Him when they gather
at the mountain where he said."

When they gathered at the mountain,
the risen Savior they see,
surrounded by the shining sun;
"Light of the World” is He!

His arms reach out toward them,
a Trinity of heavenly helping hands.
His followers fall down in worship,
awaiting His commands.

Jesus tells of a promise,
"All power is given me!
Soon, you'll have the Holy Spirit,
and my witnesses you'll be."

"Make followers of all tribes;
go then and baptize, too.
Teach them to obey everything
that I have asked of you."

"and I will be with you always
to the end of all things!"
He lifts His hands and blesses them
and is taken as with wings.

Now there were

Jesus at the Last Supper on Easter Totem Pole image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 26, 2024

6. Jesus at the Last Supper on Easter Totem Pole

With A Ladle Of Berry Juice and Holding Smoked Salmon

other appearances
of our risen Savior, you know;
on the lakeshore and other places,
they are not carved on this pole.

But this is carved that you may know,
our risen Savior does remain,
and believing in Him, we have
eternal life in His name

So keep Him as your Chief, my friend
and he shall keep you whole.
This fulfills the purpose of
the Easter totem pole.

Erected by First United Methodist Church.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Communications • Environment • Indigenous Peoples and Communities. A significant historical date for this entry is April 28, 2001.

Location. 55° 20.595′ N, 131° 38.859′ W. Marker is in Ketchikan, Alaska, in Ketchikan Gateway Borough. It is at the intersection of Main Street and Grant Street, on the right when traveling north on Main Street. Marker is on the First Methodist Church grounds. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 400 Main Street, Ketchikan AK 99901, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Alaska,

in Tlingit and Haida & Tsimshian Region.

It is also on the

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American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Inside Passage,

the Pacific Rim,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Russian Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Pioneer Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); From Planks to Pavement (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Keeping the Catch! (about 300 feet away); Upon 'Thundering Wings' (about 300 feet away); The Gilmore Hotel (about 400 feet away); First National Bank (about 400 feet away); J.R. Heckman Buildings (about 500 feet away); Tongass Trading Company (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ketchikan.

Also see . . . First United Methodist Church History. (Submitted on October 7, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

Credits. This page was last revised on October 7, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 7, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 476 times since then and 56 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on October 7, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.