Author: Eden McCall
For The Cordova Times
One sunny spring morning in mid-April, Mike Weber applies a deep stain in a ton of cedar to complete the second of the two totems. After months spent designing, carving and sanding, in a few minutes, the stain seals the wood, preparing the pillar for Cordovan time and emphasizing the distinctive beak and claws of the totem’s main character, a carved eagle.
To celebrate the installation of the totem in front of the new Prince William Sound Science Center this May, Weber, a lifelong Cordovan and Alaskan native, shared his carving process and stories behind two prominent carved birds important in Native American culture, the eagle and raven, during Shorebird May 7.
“Many natives are either Raven or Eagle, so these two poles will really represent a lot of people in this city,” Weber said.
The raven and the eagle, the central figures on each pole, are family coats of arms for the two main communities of Alaska Natives in the Prince William region. Placed in front of the new Science Center, these totem poles symbolize the unity of the Crow and Eagle communities in Córdoba.
In addition to representing the community, the raven and the eagle are also connected to stories of creation and power. During his presentation, Weber shared these stories as well as the meaning of other elements carved on poles, including octopus, bear, humpback salmon and various forms called egg-shaped.
Weber coordinated that the raven and eagle pillars be placed in front of the Science Center on Wednesday, May 4, in time for the 32nd.nd Bakar River Delta Coastal Birds Festival. The festival celebrates the connection between nature, art and community and Weber
Weber presented totems at the North Star Theater on Saturday night. Describing the significance of carving during his presentation, Weber also explained the process of creating pillars and the importance of traditional woodcarving and the art of the Northwest Pacific coast for culture and memory.
“There is not much art in this area where my grandparents are from, from Yakutia to the other side of Prince William’s Bay,” Weber said. “A lot was sold when fur traders were here in the 1800s.
Since he cut his first piece 22 years ago, Weber has created custom wood carvings that have traveled all the way to the Caribbean. These new totem poles, funded by Eiak Corporation and Chugach Alaska Corporation, will be just the second set of Weber totem poles to remain in Cordoba.
“It will be very powerful for me to see that in Cordoba, and I really hope that other people will have the same feeling.