Lakich'inei Pole

Lakich'inei Pole

Sitka National Historical Park NPS

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1 listed

Wheelchair Accessible

The Lakich'inei Pole, also known as Lagwadji'na Pole, originated in the Kaigani Haida village of Sukkwan, Alaska. Sukkwan borders the southern border of the traditional territory of the Tlingit, and includes Tlingit legends which are incorporated into the carvings. The pole was most likely carved before 1888 and was acquired from Johnny Kanow/Jones by Governor Brady on November 15, 1903.
This pole was sent to the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis in 1904 and then traveled to the Lewis & Clark Exposition in Portland, Oregon in 1905. It arrived at Sitka National Monument in 1906. By 1939, the original pole was severely decayed. It is believed the current pole standing before you is a re-carving of the original pole. 
The pole is 28 feet tall, 4 feet wide and 2 feet thick. Most of the pole has weathered to the wood, however some red and black staining or paint remains. The figures on this Kaigani Haida pole represent 3 Tlingit legends. The bottom figure is a bear with a snail or shrimp-like creature in its mouth which may represent how the Gaanaxteidí clan acquired their crest (the woodworm).
The middle figure appears to be a depiction of the Tlingit legend of the bear who married a woman.
The top figure represents an ancient Tlingit legend figure, Lakich’inei (Lagwadji’na), who was a villain pressing one of his children (who was half-human and half-dog) against his coat made from the spine of a fish, killing the child.