Totem

What it is

A totem serves as a spiritual emblem for a family, clan, or tribe. The term comes from the Ojibwe word doodem, referring to an extended family connection. It represents a tutelary spirit or sacred object that defines group identity. Similar beliefs exist worldwide under different names. In some modern contexts, individuals use the term to describe personal spirit guides outside traditional tribal structures.

Where it comes from

The word originates in the Ojibwe language and culture. Oral traditions state that great Miigis beings taught the Anishinaabe people their clan system along the Atlantic coast. The term was later adopted by anthropologists to describe similar practices globally. Some communities prefer local terms like token or ngaitji over the imported Ojibwe word.

How it is done

Totems are identified through birth, lineage, or ceremony. They may be personal, familial, or tribal. In Australia, individuals can hold multiple totems based on gender or region. Pacific Northwest peoples carve monumental poles featuring animals and supernatural beings. These poles recount stories and serve as crests for chiefs or families.

Tools and materials

Materials include animal figures, plants, and carved wood. Totem poles feature bears, birds, frogs, and aquatic creatures. These carvings act as visual records of family history and social status. Natural objects serve as symbols of connection to the land and ancestral spirits.

What it is for

Totems regulate social structure and marriage rules. They often prohibit eating one's own totem. They provide a sense of belonging and identity. In some traditions, they assist healers or define ceremonial roles. They reinforce community solidarity and link people to the natural world.

Who does it

Clan members and household groups maintain totemic ties. Leadership roles often involve reading and interpreting totem poles. Anthropologists study these systems to understand social organization. Modern neoshamans may adopt the concept for personal spiritual identification without tribal affiliation.

Peoples and places

The Ojibwe and Anishinaabe use doodem for clan identification. Aboriginal Australians associate with plant or animal totems called ngaitji. Torres Strait Islanders have auguds, including chief and little totems. Pacific Northwestern peoples create totem poles for commemoration and heraldry. Practices vary significantly between regions.

What people believe

Beliefs center on a spiritual connection between humans and nature. Totems are seen as relatives, patrons, or ancestors. Some traditions hold that ancestral spirits enter women to cause pregnancy. The totem acts as a mediator between the social group and the natural world, reinforcing collective worship and social order.

When it is done

Totemic identities are maintained throughout daily life. Specific ceremonies may involve totemic symbols. Totem poles are read from bottom to top during storytelling. No specific festivals are universally tied to all totemic practices, though local variations exist.

How scholars and sceptics see it

Early anthropologists like Frazer and McLennan viewed totemism as a universal stage of human development. Durkheim saw it as the origin of religion and social cohesion. Radcliffe-Brown argued it characterizes community segments through nature connections. Modern scholars question the generalization of the term across diverse cultures.

Compare and confuse

Totemism is compared to heraldry due to its use as family crests. It shares features with spirit animal beliefs but differs in social structure. Different cultures use distinct terms like ngaitji or augud. The concept is often confused with simple animal worship rather than complex kinship systems.

Questions people ask about Totem

Good reading and sources

• Totem on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data