totem

thumb|A totem pole in [[Ottawa, Ontario, Canada]]

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A totem is a symbolic representation, often carved into a pole, that holds spiritual or cultural significance in certain Indigenous traditions. Totems serve as important markers of identity, ancestry, and cultural heritage within communities that practice this tradition.

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Image: Totem in Valdez, Alaska.jpg

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Commons category: Totems

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Article

7 sections

Contents

Ojibwe ''doodemen''
Totem poles
Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders
Anthropological perspectives
Literature
See also
References

thumb|A totem pole in [[Ottawa, Ontario, Canada]]

A totem (from or 'doodem') is a spirit being, sacred object, or symbol that serves as an emblem of a group of people, such as a family, clan, lineage, or tribe, such as in the Anishinaabe clan system.