Chaos Around the Pole

This is a picture taken at the Kaltag Stickdance in 2012 during the last night of dancing. The picture is blurry, but if it was clear it wouldn't make as much sense to me. I love this picture! The Athabaskan people of Kaltag and Nulato take turns hosting this ceremony every other year. The ceremony is a week long event that is held in memory of ones that have passed on. During class, Don talked about the circle of life vs. the linear spectrum. I feel people today are confused about the whole circle thing and why it is done, but for me the life being the start and death being the end does not make sense. The pole is an important symbol for the Stickdance...hence the name. It is dressed with ribbons and feathers and placed in the center of the hall. Wolf and wolverine furs are placed at the top of the pole throughout the night. I am not 100% sure why, but I believe it has something to do with those two animals being symbols of power. The pole is guarded by people being dressed as community members dance around going right to left-the same cycle of the sun. The pole is the last time to dance with loved ones before they continue onto the spirit world. When the sun rises the next day-Saturday. The ribbons are cut off the pole. People gather them for good luck. Afterwards, it is taken out of the hall and walked around town by each person's house. Then, the pole is brought to the bank where it is broken and thrown onto the Yukon River. In the spring time, it is washed away with the river ice.