Originally scheduled for installation before the end of this summer, the newest Kadashan pole crafted at the WCA Carving Shed may not be raised until the summer of 2027.
Mike Hoyt, one of the primary carvers on the project, said the WCA committee still has to meet to determine when it will go up — and totem raisings tend to happen during the summer.
The pole represents the fifth iteration of a design that dates back more than 200 years. The lineage began in the early 1800s, when Haida relatives presented Chief Kadashan with a five-foot carved wooden staff — known as the Kadashan Cane or Speaker’s Staff — to commemorate marriages between Haida men and Tlingit women. A few years later, Kadashan raised a totem pole modeled after the cane.
The newest carving serves as a replica of a 1940 pole, which was itself part of that succession. While nearly identical to a sister pole raised in Wrangell in July 2025, the new piece features a raven at the top rather than an eagle.
Once installed, it will stand among the other poles in Totem Park.
While awaiting a final installation date, Hoyt has started work on another piece: a replica of the Taalkunaxk’u Shaa, or Devil’s Thumb Mountain pole. He is currently roughing out the shape from a cedar log, hoping to complete it soon for eventual placement in Totem Park.
Hoyt welcomes a steady stream of visitors through the Carving Shed on Front Street, comparing the experience to a living history museum.
“And while more people come here and get educated, we are still busy working and carving for more events and placements in the future,” he said.
“The teacher side of me is always happy to share our cultural information with those who ask. And, as a carver, I’m excited to continue working on more projects
