1. TOTEM
Definition: A particular object (generally a plant or animal) held in reverence and regarded as an ancestor or sibling by members of a group.

2. WHO Aborigines (Australia still today) Africa North America
The Term TOTEM comes from the peoples of the Pacific Northwest
Used in earlier and naturalistic religions/belief systems.

3. TOTEM
“The totem or animal spirit is of deep significance to anyone bound tightly to the natural world.”
“elaborate ancestry is created… which force the community… into specific channels or roles.”
“Personify society and symbolize it as divine.”

4. TOTEM The totem is believed to be a representation of society.
Unifies the members of society.
To reaffirm their idea of society and what it should be; the “social fabric”.
The name of the clan that is tied to the totem, is a designation of social significance.

5. The totem is believed to be a representation of society.
Members of clans are always living together.
Members are “tied” together for mutual aid and comfort.
This helps produce a dependent society on each other.
This creates a society of necessary groups and brings ritual worship for that society.

6. Emile Durkheim says…
In Christianity the revivified totem is the risen Christ. In American nationalism the transformed totem is the soldier resurrected in the raised flag. On the basis of his sacrifice the nation is rejuvenated. As the embodiment of sacrifice, the flag has transforming power. Certain acts cannot be performed except in its presence. It must be kept whole and perfect, as holy things are, and ceremonially disposed of when it is no longer fit to perform the functions of the totem object.

7. HOMEWORK DUE Thur the 26th!!!
Bring in a Totem or a Picture of a Totem that you think best represents our society. Have a written explanation how it is a totem and symbolizes what it symbolizes.

8. Bring in the Totem or a REALLLLLY GOOD picture (printed or drawn).
Totem HW Directions
Find a Totem that represents your family, our class, the school, the county, or the state.
Bring in the Totem or a REALLLLLY GOOD picture (printed or drawn).
A one paragraph explanation of how the totem represents what you say it represents.