Jasper’s new totem pole is getting closer and closer to its completion date, but the newly-carved work of art won’t be standing tall in Jasper until mid-way through 2011. 

“There’s quite a bit of work that needs to be done before the raising,” said Lori Dowling, project manager for the Jasper Totem Pole Project. 

Carvers in Haida Gwaii are hard at work perfectly forming Jasper’s new totem pole, slated to arrive in Jasper on June 24. 

Dowling said the pole should be ready in time to take part in Aboriginal Day celebrations in Old Massett, B.C. The pole will be part of a formal farewell ceremony, and will travel to Jasper starting on June 21. The trip will be done much like the original pole’s journey from Jasper to Haida Gwaii: on the back of a Parks Canada truck and trailer, carefully wrapped and protected for the journey. 

Once the pole arrives in Jasper, carvers from Haida Gwaii will put in two weeks of carving to finish the final five to 10 per cent in full public view. 

“I think the public will have really good access to the carvers,” Dowling said, adding that the tentative location for the final carving will be in front of the info centre. 

The two carvers chosen in April to carve Jasper’s totem are Jaalen and Gwaai Edenshaw. They were selected by the Old Massett Village Council, with Jasper National Parks’ recommendation.

The pole could be raised in Jasper on Canada Day, 2011, Dowling said.

As of Oct. 20, the pole is about 80 per cent complete. The last portion will be completed in Jasper. 

“They started carving it almost a year ago,” Dowling said. 

Dowling predicts the totem pole to be mostly complete by the end of this month, including a small amount of paint. 

The totem pole tells the story of The Two Brothers, and features animals that are found both in Jasper and Haida Gwaii, to connect the two communities. Those animals include a raven, a grizzly bear holding a dragonfly and a mountain goat.

The Two Brothers Story will soon be posted on the Jasper National Park website.