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New totem pole revealed at the Museum at Campbell River

totem pole
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Today the new Thunderbird Bear pole was revealed at the Museum at Campbell River.

Last year the original pole, carved by Sam Henderson, was taken down and ceremonially burned. Sam’s son, Bill, and his grandson, Junior, spent the next months recreating the 60 year old pole.

“You are standing here not because of me, not because of Billy, not because of anybody else here, we’re standing here because of Sam Henderson and the legacy he left us,” Junior said at the ceremony.

The family danced and sang in celebration.

“Life may be short, but memory is long,” said Ken Blackburn, the museum’s public programs coordinator. “And I think we’ve witnessed a very memorable day today.”


 

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Jocelyn Doll/Campbell River Mirror Bill Henderson, master carver, revealed the new totem pole, a reincarnation of the original pole that his father carved, at the museum on Saturday.
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Jocelyn Doll/Campbell River Mirror Bill Henderson, carver of the new totem pole at the Museum at Campbell River, danced during the blessing and dedication ceremony on Saturday.
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Jocelyn Doll/Campbell River Mirror Henry Seaweed, 80, a family friend of the Hendersons, participated in the dance at the totem pole blessing and dedication ceremony at the museum on Saturday.