How the Chilakoons came to Kitamaat – Kwakiutl The Chilakoons totem originated among the Haidas of Skidegate on the Queen Char- lotte Islands. It was the totem of Chief Gitwun of the Haida Eagle Clan. At the time when peace between the Haidas and the Haisia (Kitamaat people) was established the privilege of using this totem was one of many peace offerings given to Sunahead, Chief of the Haisia Eagle Clan, by Gitwun as a symbol of the end of enmity bet- ween the Haidas and the Haisia. The last Chilakoons totem pole in the Kitamaat Village was carved by these men: Noah, who carved the frog, Laadac, who carved the halibut, and Gups Nagwilk, who carved the little man on top. This totem pole was raised approximately 80 years ago in honour of the then current Sunahead who was a son of the Sunahead who had been given the privilege of using the Chilakoons totem by Gitwun. It is perhaps significant that just as the totem originated in a disastrous fire on the Queen Charlotte Islands, so the last carving of the totem was destroyed in another disastrous fire in Kitamaat Village on May 13th, 1955. Taken from Tales of Kitamaat by Gordon Robinson, July 1956. Haisla people, a branch of the Kwakiutl