Why a Story Pole?
The Wolfle Story Pole was created,
carved and installed as a symbol of the unity and relationship between
the communities of Wolfle School and the S’Klallam Tribal Community. The
connection between the two communities dates back to David Wolfle
himself and continues strong and healthy to this day.
The Carvers & the Ceremony
The
pole was carved by S’Klallam Master Carvers, and brothers, Jake and
Floyd Jones, and Ed Charles. Master of Ceremonies for the Installation
of the Story Pole was Dennis Jones (son of Jake and then Native Liaison
staff member at Wolfle). The Installation Ceremony took place on
September 25, 2007.
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pictorial history Story Pole Dedication by Angelynn & Kenneth Lynn
(presented to Floyd and Jake Jones) can be found in the Wolfle Library.
History of the Creation of the Story Pole
The
original design of the Story Pole began with ideas and drawings by
students of Wolfle. These drawings and ideas were submitted to the
Master Carvers who then created their final design.
The entire student body was bussed to the Tribal Center at Little Boston to visit the Carving Shed and learn about Story Poles.
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There,
students toured several Story Poles and learned about their history,
cultural significance and symbolism, as well as the stories each one
told.
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They visited the House of Knowledge and other sites of significance.
The tour ended with a presentation by Master Carvers Jake and Floyd Jones /The Story of the Wolfle Story Pole/PoleJake.jpg "Jake")
at
the Carving Shed. Students learned about the tools that would be used
(both traditional and modern tools and techniques) and were able to
observe, touch and smell first hand the weathered cedar log that would
soon be transformed into the Wolfle Story Pole.
Over the next several months, vanloads of 6-8 students were taken three da/The Story of the Wolfle Story Pole/carvingshed2.JPG "carving shed")
ys
a week to the Carving Shed in order to journal, photograph and
participate in the carving of the Story Pole. Different students of all
ages and all grades were taken each trip.
In
the late spring, as the project neared completion, the entire student
body was once again bussed to Little Boston to witness and experience
the flying of wood chips, the magical forms taking shape in the log, the
aroma of the cedar, the viscosity of the paint, and the gentle patience
of the carvers.
By
fall of the new school year, the night before the Installation Ceremony,
members of the Little Boston S’Klallam Community, Wolfle Staff and /The Story of the Wolfle Story Pole/DSC03448.JPG "pole raising")
residents
of Kingston gathered almost impromptu to raise the Story Pole into its
final resting place. Community members and local businesses donated
trucks, cranes and scaffolding to transport, lift and secure the pole in
place. A local church donated plants and manpower to landscape the
garden area directly around the pole. A community acting in harmony,
many hands and backs and voices pitched in to raise the pole which
stands proudly to this day. /The Story of the Wolfle Story Pole/Pole.1.JPG "pole raised")
Following
the Installation Ceremony, in which it is customary for all in
attendance to receive gifts, a dinner was held for the adults
immediately after school ended. That was perhaps the highlight of the
entire Story Pole journey … when people from all backgrounds and walks
of life and cultures sat together to share laughter and smiles and
stories and food. They shared themselves.
And that is what the Wolfle Story Pole is all about!