Ilchinik, the totem pole, started as a red cedar tree on Vancouver Island, then it was logged and sent downriver to Tim Paul's studio in Port Alberni (1). Tim Paul, the master carver, then carved the first figure on the pole.

There was a ceremony to 'close the eyes' of the figure so the pole could start its journey. It travelled for six days on the Canadian Pacific railroad to Quebec, then for a further 11 days by boat - along the St Lawrence River (2) then across the Atlantic Ocean to England, where it arrived in Felixstowe (3). The journey to Exeter (4) was completed by road.

Web page created by Elayne Taylor and Dominic Prosser of The Telematics Centre. It is supported by T3, a DGXIII_C EU funded project and Exeter City Council.. The Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter is a service provided by Exeter City Council.