On October 18, 1899, Seattle’s Pioneer Square became the controversial home of a 60-foot totem pole, a spectacle “greeted by cheers” but born from an act of theft. This Alaskan totem, taken from a Tlingit village, was presented to the city by the Chamber of Commerce “Committee of Fifteen,” a group of prominent citizens who had essentially stolen the artifact. This event highlights a complex chapter in Seattle’s history and raises important questions about cultural heritage and respect.
The justification offered at the time by attorney William H. Thompson attempted to rationalize the theft by claiming the Tlingit village was deserted and that the totem would have a more meaningful “voice” in Seattle than “lying prone on moss and fern.” However, this rationalization ignored the deep cultural significance of totem poles to Northwest Coast Native Americans.
Totem poles are far more than just carvings; they are historical documents, family histories, and clan identifiers. The Seattle totem pole specifically belonged to the Raven Clan (Kinninook family) and was carved around 1790. It commemorated Chief-of-All-Women, who tragically drowned in the Nass River while traveling to visit her ill sister. The prominent raven carving at the top symbolized a figure in Tlingit mythology known for its wisdom, omnipresence, and role as the creator of everything. In Pioneer Square, this raven initially faced north, up 1st Avenue, silently observing the burgeoning city.
The theft itself was orchestrated during a Seattle Post-Intelligencer-sponsored “Good Will Committee” tour of Southeast Alaska. Third mate R. D. McGillvery, driven by opportunity, led sailors ashore at Fort Tongass while most villagers were fishing. He recounted, “We picked out the best looking totem pole… I took a couple of sailors ashore and we chopped it down – just like you’d chop down a tree.” The totem was then cut into pieces to be transported back to Seattle. The “Committee of Fifteen” rewarded McGillvery a mere $2.50 for his role in this act of cultural appropriation.
James Clise, acting President of the Chamber of Commerce at the time, offered a self-serving account years later, attempting to minimize the wrongdoing. He claimed they found an “abandoned Indian village” with “decrepit Indians” who supposedly offered no objection. He even audaciously stated the Tlingit people were “as pleased at our taking it as were the people of Seattle to receive this outstanding example of workmanship.” This version of events starkly contrasts with the reality of cultural theft.
The audacity of the act did not go unnoticed. A federal grand jury in Alaska indicted eight prominent Seattle citizens for theft of government property. However, powerful figures in Seattle and Pacific Coast politicians rallied to protect the indicted men. Clise described how “every Senator and Representative from the Pacific Coast states went in a body to the State Department in Washington and asked the dismissal of the suit.” Adding to this manipulation of justice, a newly appointed Alaskan judge, during a stopover in Seattle, was lavishly entertained and subsequently dismissed the case upon assuming his judicial position.
While the legal repercussions were evaded, the Tlingit Tribe demanded $20,000 for their stolen heritage. They eventually settled for a paltry $500, paid by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. The original Seattle totem pole stood in Pioneer Square until 1938 when arson caused significant damage. In 1940, it was replaced with a replica carved by descendants of the original Tlingit carvers.
The Seattle Totem Pole in Pioneer Square, therefore, carries a complex and controversial history. While it stands as a landmark in Pioneer Square, it also serves as a reminder of the unethical acquisition of cultural artifacts and the historical injustices faced by Native American communities. Today, as visitors admire the totem pole, it is crucial to remember and acknowledge the full story behind it – a story of both cultural appreciation and cultural appropriation in the heart of Seattle’s Pioneer Square.
Sources:
- Dorpat, Paul. Seattle Now and Then Vol. 2. Seattle: Tartu Publications, 1984.
- Wherry, Joseph H. The Totem Pole Indians. New York: Wilfred Funk, Inc., 1964.
- Speidel, William C. Sons of the Profits. Seattle: Nettle Creek Publishing Co., 1967.
- Garfield, Viola. Seattle’s Totem Poles. Bellevue, WA: Thistle Press, 1996.
- Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation. Data on the History of Seattle Park System Vol. 4. Seattle: Seattle Parks Department, 1978.
- Clise, James William. “Personal Memoirs 1855-1935.” Mimeograph, Altadena, California, 1935, Seattle Public Library.
