Kwakiutl Bear Pole returns home to carver’s family property
Henry Hunt’s pole has stood at Belleville and Government since 1966.
lək̓ʷəŋən Traditional Territory/VICTORIA, BC, October 20, 2025 — A landmark totem pole that has stood at the corner of Belleville and Government streets since 1966 will be respectfully returned to the family of the artist who carved it, Henry Hunt of the Kwakwaka’wakw First Nation (Fort Rupert, B.C.).
Located on Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA) property, the Kwakiutl Bear Totem pole was repaired and repainted in 2014. However, due to further deterioration, the pole will now be transported to Fort Rupert on the northern coast of Vancouver Island, where it will rest at the home of Hunt’s son, carver Stan Hunt.
The cedar pole, carved in the Kwakwaka’wakw carving tradition, was created as part of a centenary project commemorating the 1866 union of the colonies of Vancouver Island and mainland British Columbia. The Province’s Centennial Committee commissioned 19 totem poles by nine carvers to be placed at prominent locations. They became known as the Route of the Totems.
Totem poles are living artworks with a natural life cycle, typically lasting about 50 years. When possible, they are allowed to return to the earth on the lands where they stand. Because the Hunt Pole is located on a busy sidewalk, it will instead be brought home to the Hunt family for its next chapter.
Stan Hunt said: “It’s amazing to think about how many people from around the world have learned about First Nations’ art and culture through this totem pole. We are grateful that the pole has been hosted on lək̓ʷəŋən territory for so many years.”
“This totem pole has been an important part of the waterfront for decades and has been enjoyed by countless visitors and residents,” said Judith Ethier, acting CEO of GVHA. “As it reaches the end of its time in the Inner Harbour, we are honoured to return it to the Hunt family with gratitude for its enduring presence and the stories it has carried.”
A new cedar planter with local Indigenous plants will be installed at Belleville and Government while GVHA consults with the Songhees Nation and the xʷsepsəm Nation on a new lək̓ʷəŋən artwork as part of its placemaking initiative.
The removal will be carried out in a manner that honours cultural protocol and the wishes of the Hunt family and the local Nations. Images will be available upon request.