A Haida Carver has begun the journey in creating a Haida Totem Pole to honour his late mother.
Lyle Campbell decided to start his journey early one morning after googling his mothers name. Realizing he wanted her to be remembered for the great life she lived.
Alice Campbell was 8 when she contracted Polio and spent 5 years at the Miller Bay hospital near Prince Rupert. She eventually went back to Old Masset where years later she would meet Lyle’s dad Butch Campbell. She was told by doctors she would not be able to have children but still managed to have 4. She took up knitting and crocheting as a stay at home mom and donated much of her work to raise money for the Cancer Society. She was described as a kind soul who was always willing to reach out and help whomever she could.
The Haida Memorial Pole is to honour the life of a Haida Woman. Lyle hopes that telling her story will help inspire people to be kinder and more accepting of one another. Currently there are 3 Haida Carvers working alongside Lyle, Johnathan Watts (Haida, Nisga’a), Jason Watts (Haida, Nisga’a) and Larry Thompson (Haida). He has set up a GoFundMe page to ensure that the carvers working alongside him are compensated for their time, though all the carvers have agreed to help even without the money in place.
Lyle found inspiration from a Heiltsuk Carver who created the Totem Poles for the Big House.
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