Totem pole that has stood near Manitoba Legislature since 1971 laid to rest in keeping with tradition

A totem pole that has stood on the grounds of the Manitoba Legislature for more than 50 years has come down.

The five-metre-high pole was unveiled in 1971 to mark the 100th anniversary of British Columbia's entry into Confederation.

It was made by Henry Hunt, a Kwaguilthcarver from coastal B.C., and depicts a legend of Indigenous people from the West Coast.

The Manitoba government says the pole deteriorated over time.

Richard Hunt, Henry Hunt's son and also a carver, inspected the pole in 2022 and recommended it be laid to rest, the province said in a news release.

Ithas been removed from its base and laid in a raised planter bed, where it will decay and return to the earth, in keeping with Kwaguilthtradition.

Premier Wab Kinew says an important part of reconciliation is recognizing and honouring traditional Indigenous cultures.

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