Salford Totem Pole
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Posted by Editor on 26th October 2009 at 12:48 PM
The Salford Totem Campaign - (Part 5)
Filmed by Tony Thornborough

Edited by Caroline Kullendorff

Along with Irwell Riverside Councillor Matt Mold, the residents of Albion Green, Salford give us their views on the Salford totem pole, which is currently lying in a lock-up in Broughton.

The 9 metre, 36-ft ceremonial wooden carving once stood proudly outside the Manchester Liners building, a prosperous shipping company in the heyday of Salford Docks.

The chairman of Manchester Liners, Robert Stoker, comissioned the Kwakiutl Indians of British Columbia in Canada to produce the totem pole and it was shipped to England in 1969.

The different animals which adorn the pole represent the trading history that brought ships business 5000 miles around the world to trade in Salford Docks; the Raven is the the symbol of the messenger, the Killer Whale, the master of the seas.

It stood outside Furness House for much of its life, before being removed in 2005 after damage by the elements.




Related Links

Detailed pictures of the Salford Totem Pole click here
Interview with artist Harold Riley on the Salford Totem Pole click here
Your local councillors on the Salford Totem Pole click here
Report as offensive or innapropriate Comment by Guest  31st October 2009
Not sure if the elements were as damaging as the chain saw that took it down!

Report as offensive or innapropriate Comment by Guest  31st October 2009
We will have some important and exciting announcements to make in the next 2 weeks! I've been talking to Kevin Cramner recently about this Totem Pole, his Uncle Doug Cramner carved this in British Columbia, he sadly died 3 years ago. I did not realise how significant this Pole was until speaking to Kevin, we certainly have a lot of our assumptions wrong about the meaning of the Pole, there is much more to this than meets the eyes! Regards (Cllr) Steve Coen

Report as offensive or innapropriate Comment by Guest  26th October 2009
Keep up the campaign and the Totem Pole will be reinstated, keep it in the public eye.

Report as offensive or innapropriate Comment by Guest  26th October 2009
It's really good to see this campaign building more and more momentum by the week. I hope you succeed with it, it will be a great victory for Salford.

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