Whitehorse totem pole lacks signage, leaves people with 'questions that should be answered'

The sight of two teens climbing on a healing totem pole has led a Whitehorse man to take action.

Mark Rutledge is asking local community leaders to put up signs explaining its significance.

"It's a great looking totem, it's beautiful. They [visitors] probably know it's First Nations, but they're left with questions that should be answered."

The 11-metre totem was erected on the Whitehorse waterfront next to the White Pass building five years ago, as part of a project by the Northern Cultural Expressions Society. 

• Healing totem pole to be erected in Whitehorse

Each wood chip in the healing totem represents a person impacted by the residential school experience. 

Rutledge, who is Ojibwa from Ontario, says people sometimes notice he is First Nations and ask him about the totem's history or meaning. 

Rose Perrin was glad he was on hand during her visit. 

 "He was able to give me the story behind this totem pole and then we got talking about how important it is to have the information because it leads to shared understanding and education." 

Actions 'really disrespecting First Nations culture'

Rutledge recently had a less pleasant experience, when he saw two teenagers climbing on the sacred pole. 

"I was actually flabbergasted. I couldn't believe that I saw that," Rutledge said.

He asked the people to get off the totem, but regrets not speaking to them further.

"In hindsight I should have actually explained to them why climbing on this totem is not a good idea. And that you're really disrespecting First Nations culture."

Rutledge believes local First Nations, municipal, and territorial leaders are now aware of the need for signage and he hopes something will come of it.

​"I'm hoping that the powers to be — the politicians and the First Nation[s] governments — can come together and start talking about how are we going to proceed form here. We definitely need signage."