Makah Totem Pole, late 20th century by Frank Smith (1884-1992)

Totem Pole, late 20th century, 16 1/2" x 3" Signed "Made by Frankie Smith Patterned from Ralph Lachester 1. Thunderbird - Big 2. Wolf 3. Kidnapper (Wolf and Kidnapper "Slaves to Thunderbird") "Whale/thunderbird Symbols Macaw Neah bay Baby is medicine".
Frank Smith Makah Tribe

This is Frank Smith enrolled member of the Makah Nation in his wood working shop at Neah Bay Washington. For many years Frank was known as the master carver and teacher for all the Makah"s. He taught the students craving in the Makah high school, as well as earned his entire income from his work. Frank shared in detail with me, Paul Eubanks all about his methods of selecting Western Red Cedar. He would fall the tree deep in the forest and mill it on location for the wood he needed using a portable chain saw mill. He spoke with special emphasis about not wasting trees but to utilize every part of the tree he selected. Frank became known as a world famous Native American Carver of the Pacific Northwest. Today there are large totem poles standing in the city's of Port Orcherd, Bremerton, Neah Bay and Clallam Bay Washington and many other locations all around the world. He preferred to stand in the background and seldom spent time in the view of the public eye. Pictures of Frank were nearly forbidden. However he was a close friend of mine and that included photography of Frank and his art. Frank Smith a Makah elder who passed the gift from his ancestors to many young ones for the future generations to come. Paul Eubanks by Paul Eubanks