Restored centennial totem pole unveiled in Whitehorse

Chris MacintyreAPTN NewsA totem pole that was gifted to Yukon by the B.C. government and Tsimshian First Nations in 1971 has been restored and unveiled in Whitehorse.Yukon Minister of Tourism and Culture Jeanie Dendys said the totem pole “symbolizes that living culture that we have, so it was really important to restore this totem pole.”The pole was carved by William Jeffrey, whose great granddaughter Sarah Jeffrey was on hand for the ceremony this week.Though she never met her great grandfather, Jeffrey said he would be proud.”I think he would be really proud of the work that we’re doing, and I think he would be proud that we’re doing generational work. He did this work, he started this work, my grandmother continued it, my mother continues it, and now it’s my job to carry it on for my generation and teach the future generations to carry it on.”

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