This is Love One More Time
Oct 22, 2025
In this episode, Robert Davidson, a renowned Haida artist instrumental in the revival of totem pole carving, shares his journey from a culturally silent childhood in Old Masset to leading a vibrant artistic renaissance. He reflects on the loss of traditions due to colonization and residential schools, his determination to carve the Bear Mother pole, and the joy of community involvement in the pole-raising ceremony. Robert's story highlights a profound cultural rebirth, inspiring the reclaiming of Haida art, dances, and unity among clans.
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Childhood Without Totem Poles
- Robert Davidson grew up in Old Masset where totem poles and cultural practices had been erased by missionaries and disease.
- He describes a childhood with no visible Haida art, calling those years "the silent time."
Cultural Rupture From Colonization
- Missionaries and government policies decimated Haida culture through destruction of art and removal of children to residential schools.
- These actions created a cultural rupture that left returning children strangers in their own land.
Finding Lost Art In His Village
- Robert first saw Haida art in museums and felt inspired by its quality and presence outside his village.
- He began searching his village for surviving pieces, trading two gold bracelets for a storage box he found.
