Chief Johnson's Pole

• Other Authors: A. de Menil
• Format: Still Image
• Language: unknown
• Published: 1966
• Subjects: Tlingit > - Totem > Pole > Alaska > Northwest Coast > Native > First Nation >; Tlingit > - Ketchikan > Totem > Pole > Alaska > Northwest Coast > Native > First Nation >; Ketchikan; tlingit; Alaska
• Online Access: https://digital.lib.sfu.ca/billreid-3417/chief-johnsons-pole

Chief Johnson pole was commissioned by the Tongass people (sea lion people) and stood in the Centre of the community at Ketchikan Creek. The original pole stood from 1901 to 1982. It was recommissioned in 1989 by the Tongass and carved by Israel Shotridge. The pole tells the legend of Fog Woman and the creation of the salmon. It is a story about a young man (Raven) who took a liking to Fog Woman. He went to fog woman's father's house (chief of the Salmon) and told him he wanted to mary Fog Woman. The father agreed and the two got married. According to custom Fog Woman had to move into the young man's house. The young man went out fishing everyday for his wife, but could not catch anything. After this continued for some time, Fog Woman asked her slaves for spruce root into which she wove a basket. She then commanded the slaves to fill it half full of salt water. They did so and brought her the half filled basket. Fog Woman moved her hands through the water and then commanded the slaves to dump the water on the floor. As soon as the water hit the floor, salmon were flopping about where the water had been. The husband became jealous as Fog Woman was now providing for both of them and he struck her. Fog Woman got up to leave the house and as she did the salmon followed her and as her husband tried to grab her his hands passed through her as if he were grabbing the mist. Fog Woman travels up the rivers every year and as she returns the salmon still follow her. The story tells how Fog woman is still returning and feeding the Tlingit people.