Everett Community College in Washington is dedicating a new totem pole on Saturday but not everyone is happy about it.

The family of Abner Johnson, a part-time instructor and Tlingit carver who died in 1997, is boycotting the ceremony. Lisa Johnson said the school mistreated and neglected her father's original totem pole.

The pole was commissioned in the early 1970s but became heavily damaged and ended up in a child's playground. The university burned it in 2004 over the objections of the Johnsons.

The school planned to pay tribute to Johnson as part of the dedication but that has been scrapped. The ceremony now just includes an unveiling, dance performances and a dinner [Press Release | Google Archive of Press Release].

Get the Story:
EvCC wants new totem to heal (The Everett Herald 9/26)

Relevant Links:
Everett Community College - http://www.evcc.ctc.edu