A Gift of Remembrance

Totem Pole Donation Honours Survivors

The Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS) is deeply grateful to our friends at First Peoples Law for generously donating a breathtaking totem pole, carved by Charles Joseph (Boone) of the Kwakwaka’wakw North Coast Nation. This powerful gift stands as a testament to their enduring commitment to truth, justice, and healing for Survivors.

First Peoples Law has long been an advocate for Indigenous rights, and this donation reflects their unwavering dedication to reconciliation. By entrusting this totem pole to IRSSS, they not only honour the resilience of those impacted by Residential Schools but also reaffirm our shared mission of supporting Survivors and their families. 

Totem poles have long served as profound symbols of identity, history, and storytelling. Carved from cedar, they hold the wisdom of generations – recording ancestral lineages, clan crests, traditional stories, and historical events. Each totem tells a story, and ours tells a particularly poignant one: the story of a mother and her two children – one taken to Residential School, the other hidden beneath her long flowing hair. 

The mother figure, dark and strong, stands tall with long hair cascading down her back and sides. Her older child is carved from lighter wood and stands exposed before her, unable to hide under her protective shield. This striking contrast represents both those taken and those kept in hiding – a powerful depiction of the pain of separation caused by Residential Schools, as well as the enduring resilience of Survivors and their families.  

This totem pole was commissioned over 20 years ago by Donovan and Co., which later merged with First Peoples Law. At that time, Donovan and Co. represented the artist as part of the Indian Residential School class action. This long-standing relationship makes the gift all the more meaningful. Not only does it visually capture the strength and resilience of Indigenous Peoples, but it also serves as two real-life examples of reconciliation in action – how it was commissioning two decades ago, and how it was recently gifted to IRSSS. 

Now standing proudly at the IRSSS Headoffice in West Vancouver, this striking 7-foot totem is a powerful reminder of why we do this work. It is a symbol of strength, survival, and the ongoing journey of healing. 

We extend our deepest gratitude to First Peoples Law, not only for this incredible gift but for their steadfast commitment to Survivors and Indigenous justice.