Indian Village and Totems, April 1970
I have two very nice (and somewhat rare) photos of the Indian Village, featuring the wonderful totem poles that were once on display there. I believe that the additions of these artworks from the Pacific Northwest tribes were added in 1962.
Considering that it was a beautiful, sunny day in April, I'm surprised that there is not another living soul visible; it looks morning-ish, maybe the crowds had not found their way back there yet.
I've always wondered how authentic these beautiful carved totems were, and do have a photo from 1956 showing a native craftsman carving a pole in Frontierland. Is it possible that he was given a full six years to create the dozen (or so) totem poles that would eventually be on display?
The Indian Village would close in 1972, replaced by "Bear Country".
16 comments:
Major-
Such wonderful examples of Americana of the most authentic kind.
Thanks, Major.
Very nice views of the totems. I added both of them to my Disney Stuff folder.
In the first image, are those things atop the poles to the right, masks made from bison hide? I like the contrast in textures and artistic styles between the teepee and the totems. And how they're set against the greenery of the trees.
In the 2nd image, I think that might be a carving of a beaver on the bottom of the right totem. Not sure what the big-billed bird is on the same pole. A pelican, maybe?
And where does that elaborate entrance lead to, on the left?
Thanks for the totem pics, Major. Brightly lit, colorful, and in crisp focus. Fine examples, indeed!
It looks like there are some fish drying out in the sun (much better than dried papeeses), on the roof of that potlatch house.
It's interesting that in the past there was more emphasis and thought that went into education in addition to the entertainment value. I wonder what happened to these tee pees and totems and such. Disneyland could be famous for recycling, or infamous for trashing things. Someone knows. I remember as a kid walking through these tee pees and viewing native dancing, and I did rally enjoy the Indian Trading Post with it's sod roof. So many details in here, right down to the leather strips that hold together railings. I'm wondering if this would be pavers and bright paint today. I think more accurately since none of this "entertainment" has dollar value or capacity it would not even be a consideration. Such is the time. I get it, but I don't have to like it. Nor do I have to like it or lump it. I need to look up the word: lump. A lump is a piece of coal in your stocking at Christmas...or what you get on your noggin when you fall out of bed in the morning, and what is a noggin? why is a noggin? All good questions. Thanks for the link to the past Major. I like gramps and gram...and the bag...and later Pendleton Disneyland had it's own bags..dual branded. Such a nice sunny day here in Native American town...It would be nice to see some papeese...dried or otherwise. I'll settle for fish. Dried fish is tasty to some. It is not tasty to me in any shape or form. As a partial Norseman there was a lot of fish growing up...in all ways...I credit some of my longevity to fish eating and cod liver oil. If I could stomach the cod liver oil I would force it upon myself. Smoked fish is awesome...dried salty bags of fish: well...no.... Filet O' Fish sandwich: YES! Thanks major for the trip back in time!
Interesting to note the “walk-thru” of the tipi in the first photo. I have never seen one like that before, but it makes a lot of sense in a place Ike Disneyland where there can be large crowds and you want people to keep moving. It looks like the longhouse in the second picture had a similar design feature.
Always glad to visit this corner of the Park that I have no memory of looking like this. Thanks, Major!
I read somewhere (uh oh, here comes an off the wall "fact") that the most important figures on the poles were actually on the bottom, so being "the low man on the totem pole" was a good thing!
I do like these. It seems like native Americans were better represented in the 60s in our theme parks. I mean, yeah, there were sone messy stereotypes from old westerns, but there was a lot of cool stuff too. Or maybe being with my Cherokee grandmother who always pointed out such things made them more noticable.
I have fond memories, reguardless...
Chuck... yes, I also took note of the cool walk-thru feature of the teepee. Notice how the hand rail continues through (presumingly on both sides) and I guess a display of teepee living was shown inside. Now *that* pic would be indeed rare!
Good stuff Major.
Good to hear these were produced by native carvers. I wonder how much, if any, editorial control was exercised by Disney, or did the carvers have a free hand?
These look slightly different from the ones I remember from Ketchikan. Brighter colors, slightly different forms, but the point comes across in the end.
I barely remember the Indian Village, I don’t think we went up there every trip, so these are a good reminder. Thank you.
JG
I forgot to copy my text and had to re-write this whole thing again when an error occurred logging in.
We always enjoyed that area back in the early days. Being familiar with Hopi, Navajo, Yaqui and Papago (now Tohono Oʼodham) tribes in the Tucson area, it was cool to see other tribes represented. I always think of Pacific Northwest tribes when I see Totems like that. Reminds me of that photo, that I can't find right now, of the back lot with the Totem poles leaning on the side of a building, with two guys pushing a Rhino or something for the Jungle Cruise in the foreground. I know you know which one.
Thanks Major, big treat.
These are exceptionally nice Indian Village pics. It's too bad they still didn't have something like this at Disneyland where you would walk through. Thanks, Major.
Dr. Goat. I know which picture you meant. I was in the August 1963 issue of National Geographic magazine.
https://themousemuseum.com/2017/08/04/walt-disney-national-geographic-cover-story-1963/#jp-carousel-4204
Nanook, while the Indian Village might not have been perfect, it’s nice to see the respectful way that Walt and his Imagineers wanted to portray the crafts and culture of Native Americans.
JB, it’s hard to tell what exactly those “masks” represent; they do look a bit like bison, but the carved wooden faces feel more like something the Pacific Northwest Indians would have produced, and I don’t believe that bison were part of their world. Maybe I’m mistaken Yes, that definitely looks like a beaver at the bottom of that pole! And of course that is a Tookie Tookie Bird on the other pole. The entrance to the goes into the ceremonial “plank house” (though I think you could just walk in, not through).
TokyoMagic!, I carry a few dried fish in my pockets at all times because you just never know.
Bu, I like the old Disneyland, where a display of Native American items could be there strictly for the education of guests, no specific IP or ride attached to it. As you said, none of it would bring in guest dollars, so it would not happen today. The totem poles went to the Magic Kingdom, perhaps the teepees did as well. Lump. Noggin. Words! The word of the day is “FLUFFY”. I’ve never had dried fish except for in tiny amounts in some sort of Asian soup, and it was fine. My grandma would sometimes make salt cod, had to soak it for hours if not days. I never ate it because I was an obnoxious kid.
Chuck, good point, I didn’t know that there were “walk-thru” teepees either. BTW, I’ve seen “tepe”, “tipi”, “teepee”, and have no idea if one is more “correct” than another. As I said to JB, I’m not sure you could walk completely through the plank house, although it does appear that way. Who knows!
Stu29573, I know nothing about Indian art; I guess I was applying my Euro-centric idea that the creatures lower to the ground were of more “Earthly” nature, while the animals that are higher up are “closer to heaven” or “closer to the Gods”, or something like that. No doubt I am completely wrong. A Cherokee grandmother, wow, that would certainly give you a different perspective on things.
LTL, of course I would LOVE to have a photo taken inside one of those teepees!
JG, I would assume that Disney allowed the carvers to make the totem poles the way they wanted, since they are of a spiritual nature. You never know though, maybe they were told to make them more colorful, or something. It was interesting to go to Seattle a few years back, there are representations of totem poles all over the place. I went to Ketchikan, but sadly the memories are pretty faint. One of the negatives of cruise ships is that they give you a few hours on shore before you have to be back on that damn ship. I want to see Alaska, not a ship!
DrGoat, I’m sorry your comment vanished. Seems like that happens to a lot of people, sadly. I know exactly the photo you are talking about, you can see an uncropped version of it HERE
There's a bump on my noggin
The size of a crumpet.
I really don't like it;
So I guess I should lump it.
These are absolutely gorgeous pictures. What luck to find good reference shots with no people standing in front of the artwork!
I remember going to what was then called Plimoth Plantation (now Plymouth Patuxet), a Colonial-era living history site, on a school trip in Grade 8. There's a replica Wampanoag village there, but we could only look at it over a fence because there were no staff there at the time. I still have some very grainy 110 pictures, and now I'm curious to go dig them out.
Very nice pictures! Especially the first one.
In the 2nd pic, I like that little white carved critter on the tippy-top of the left totem pole. Is that a mouse facing away from us? Or a salamander facing us?
Thanks, Major.
—Sue
Melissa, it really is amazing that there are NO other people in either of these shots; that’s why I can only speculate that these were taken before everyone else managed to find the Indian Village. Can you go back to the Plymouth Patuxet, or is it too far away? It might be a neat thing to do.
Sue, I can’t tell what that white thing is up on that totem pole! I think it’s an animal facing away from us (so we are seeing its rear end and hind legs), but am unsure of what is going on with the front end.
Tokyo!, they look like salmon. But they're not as cute as the papeeses.
Bu, Ha! After meandering through 'lumps' and 'noggins', I had to use a machete to hack my way back to the comments section. Aaaand then we got off the path again with Norsemen and cod liver oil. I enjoy your rambling comments.
Major, yeah, upon thinking it through, bear hide probably would have been a more accurate guess. Or even elk hide. The 'mask' on the left looks sorta like a rabbit, and the one on the right might be a Sasquatch.
Since "teepee" is not an English word, and originally not written in the English alphabet, I suppose it could be spelled any way you like. Any, and all, would be just as accurate (or inaccurate).
And now the day is complete; with a poem by Melissa.
Sue, it looks like mousamander to me. If we knew what that conical thing is he's sitting on (a fir tree, maybe?), we could probably make a half-decent guess. It IS a strange little thing.
I may get back to Plymouth someday, Maj; it’s only about 6 hours away. But I think it’ll probably be a while before I’m ready and able to do much in the way of road trips again. That school trip was the same one I mentioned a while back, when I talked about getting seasick on a whale-watching boat. The actual whale-watching was pretty cool, though!
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