Smithers Indigenous Art Tour

Wet'suwet'en Clans

Wet'suwet'en Clans 📍1089 Main Street – Bovill Square Located in Bovill Square, Nwhintsiy: Our Crests showcases five traditional Wet'suwet'en clan crests carved by master artist Chief Dziggot (Ron Austin Sr.). Displayed high above the square, these carvings represent the five Wet'suwet'en clans: Gidimt'en, Laksilyu, Gilseyhu, Tsayu, and Laksamshu. The installation offers visitors an introduction to the Wet'suwet'en clan system and the cultural significance of each crest. It's a meaningful stop in downtown Smithers and a great place to begin learning about the region's Indigenous heritage.

Coast Mountain College Pole

Coast Mountain College Pole 3966 2nd Ave Standing outside Coast Mountain College in Smithers, this impressive 28-foot red cedar totem pole celebrates the history, culture, and traditions of the Witset (Witsuwit'en) people. Carved by master carver Chief Dzigot (Ron Austin Sr.) and apprentice James Madams, with guidance from local Witset chiefs, the pole features the five clans in their traditional order. From the base upward, the carvings include the Gidimt'en (Wolf/Bear), Gilseyhu (Big Frog), Laksilyu (Small Frog), Laksamshu (Fireweed), and Tsayu (Beaver) clans, each representing an important part of Wet'suwet'en identity and history. Created in 2011, the project brought together artists, students, and community members, making the carving itself a shared cultural experience. Today, the pole stands as a welcoming landmark and a tribute to the strength and traditions of the Wet'suwet'en people.

Walnut Park Totem Pole

Walnut Park Totem Pole 📍4092 Mountainview Ave., Walnut Park Elementary School Raised in 2023, the Walnut Park Totem Pole recognizes the history of the land where Walnut Park Elementary School now stands—an area once known as Indian Town. The pole represents the School District's and community's commitment to acknowledging the history of Wet'suwet'en territory and supporting reconciliation. From the 1920s through the 1970s, many Wet'suwet'en families lived in this neighbourhood. During the 1950s, community leader Jack Joseph challenged the residential school system after losing a daughter at Lejac Residential School. Along with other families, he fought for Indigenous children to attend public school. The resulting tax protest led to many families losing their homes, and the community was eventually displaced. The pole was designed and carved by Chief Dziggot (Ron Austin Sr.) and Dan Yunxws, with students and community members contributing throughout the project. Its carvings tell the story of the land and its people. A bear with both bear and wolf faces symbolizes the territory, while an open walnut on the back reveals children emerging and transforming into different beings, representing growth, learning, and the future. Figures from local clans and crests spiral upward, illustrating the journey from childhood to wisdom. More than a work of art, the Walnut Park Totem Pole stands as a symbol of remembrance, education, and reconciliation, encouraging visitors to learn about the history of the Wet'suwet'en people and the shared future of the Bulkley Valley.

The Healing Pole

The Healing Pole 📍4408 3rd Ave. – Smithers Secondary School Created in 1999 in reaction to a racist graffiti attack, the Healing Pole stands as a symbol of learning, respect, and reconciliation. The project began after racist graffiti appeared at Smithers Secondary School in the late 1990s, inspiring students and community members to work together on something that would promote understanding and healing. Carved from red cedar over six months, the 24-foot pole was created by principal carvers Delgam Uukw (Earl Muldoe), James Madams, Warner Naziel, Robert Sebastian, Darryl Brooks, and Ron Austin Sr. It features the five Wet'suwet'en clans—Bear, Killer Whale, Beaver, Big Frog, and Small Frog—standing together to represent unity. Raised during a community celebration, the Healing Pole remains an important landmark that reflects the community's commitment to cultural awareness, inclusion, and stronger relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.

The Brother Pole

Brother Pole- 3955 3rd Ave Located at the Dze L K’ant Friendship Centre, the Brother Pole is an 11-foot memorial dedicated to the memory of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Men and Boys, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, LGBTQ2S+ people, and Residential School Survivors. The pole serves as a place of reflection, healing, and remembrance, offering family members, friends, and the community a space to honour loved ones and recognize their stories. Created by Nisga'a and Tsimshian artist Mike Dangeli, with support from his wife and two sons, the pole was gifted to the Dze L K’ant Friendship Centre in 2021 by the Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS North West Region). It is considered the companion to the Grandmother Pole, carved by Dangeli in Kitsumkalum near Terrace, which honours Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.