Canadian totem

The Canadian totem (Spanish: Tótem canadiense) is a totem pole in Chapultepec, a city park in Mexico City, Mexico. It was designed by Kwakwakaʼwakw carver Mungo Martin and gifted to Mexico by the Canadian government in the 1960s to celebrate the 150th year of Mexican independence. One of the last projects Martin worked on before his death in 1962, the totem pole was carved by Tony Hunt, Henry Hunt, and Euguene Hunt. The totem pole underwent restorations in 2014 to mark the 70th anniversary of Canada–Mexico relations.

Brightly coloured,^[1] the totem pole is made from red cedar^[2] and stands 37 feet (11 m) tall.^[3] It is located in the first section of Chapultepec park, by the Calzada del Rey and behind the Quebradora gate (Spanish: puerta Quebradora).^[4][1]

The totem pole depicts, from top to bottom, a Thunderbird, a sea otter, the double-headed serpent Sisiutl, and Cedar Man.^[5][6] The presence of the sea otter was to represent the connections between Mexico and British Columbia that were formed when the Spanish were exploring the Northwest Coast.^[2] According to the Canadian ambassador in 2014, the black, green, red, white, and yellow colours featured on the pole were traditional in Kwakwakaʼwakw art.^[7] In 2014, after the pole was repaired, the conservator announced that he planned to re-install it facing east, to mark its new life.^[8]

The totem pole was commissioned by Howard Charles Green, the secretary of state for external affairs, on behalf of the federal Canadian government as a gift to Mexico in honour of the country's 150th anniversary of independence.^[3][5] In charge of design was Kwakwakaʼwakw carver Mungo Martin; the pole was carved in 1961 at Thunderbird Park with assistance from Tony Hunt Sr., Henry Hunt, and Euguene Hunt.^[3][5][8] Tony Hunt later disputed the involvement of the other men, maintaining that, though the pole was designed by his grandfather, Martin, Tony Hunt was the sole carver on the project.^[3] It was one of the last, or the last, major project that Martin worked on before his death in the following year.^{[3][8][9][10]}

The totem pole was taken from British Columbia to Acapulco, Mexico, by boat, then taken by road to the park.^[2] It was officially presented to Mexico by Canadian ambassador William Arthur Irwin on 18 October 1962, two months after Martin's death.^[9] Irwin spoke at the ceremonies, discussing the connections between indigenous Mexican and Canadian art. He stated that though "Canadian Indigenous art never reached the heights of craftsmanship and aesthetic excellence achieved by the pre-Hispanic civilizations of Mexico", he found "there were certain affinities between the two cultures".^[11] Hundreds of people attended the ceremony in Chapultepec, Canadian and Mexican alike, including officials such as Indian diplomat P.L. Bhandari, British ambassador Peter Garran, and Mexican José Gorostiza.^[9][2] A mariachi band played both country's national anthems.^[2]

In the 21st century, a Canadian resident noticed that the totem pole had begun to deteriorate and contacted the Canadian government.^[3] The totem pole was assessed in November 2013, and taken down the following May for six weeks of repairs. It was cleaned, capped, treated for pests, and repainted,^[8] and the area around the pole underwent additional renovations.^[12] The repairs, done to mark the 70th anniversary of Canadian–Mexican relations, were led by the Canadian Embassy in Mexico City in collaboration with the Mexican government.^[1][3] The project was funded by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Mexico and Canadian companies, and cost over 748,000 pesos.^[8] The pole itself was restored by a Mexican restorer and a Canadian conservator, with the assistance of two Kwakwaka’wakw carvers.^[3]

Tony Hunt, who was only invited to consult, not contribute to, the restoration efforts, criticized the attempt. He felt that his lack of involvement, without the tools Martin had made, was insulting to both him and Martin, and described the decision as akin to "sending a carpenter to repaint the Mona Lisa".^[3]

The rededication ceremony was held on and 23 October 2014,^[13] led by the head of Mexico City Miguel Ángel Mancera, who spoke about Canada–Mexico relations alongside Canadian diplomat Sara Hradecky and secretary for the environment Tanya Müller.^[12]

• The Thunderbird on top of the pole
• Detail of the totem pole, below the Sea Otter
• Side view of the Thunderbird

• List of totem poles

• Documentary: Restoring the Chapultepec Forest Totem, CDMX on YouTube (Documentary released by the Canadian embassy)