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North West Coast Haida Totem Frog

The Frog

The Native Symbol or Totem the Frog symbolizes wealth and abundance. When a Frog is portrayed in art with his tongue touching another creature, it represents the sharing of knowledge and power. Many native cultures believe that Frogs prevent loss, which is why small Frog coins are put in purses to prevent money loss. The Haida also carved Frogs on their house posts in belief that the Frogs would prevent the posts from falling down.

In one of the Haida Legends it is told that until recently, no Frogs lived in Haida Gwaii, home of the Haida people. A Haida story tells of a Frog Chief who ran into a black bear while traveling along the Island. The black bear was amused by the hopping Frog Chief and tried to step on it, just for fun. The little Frog escaped by hopping between the bear’s legs. The Frog Chief ran back to his village telling all the other Frogs of his terrifying experience. Fearing this huge creature would find their village; the Frogs packed their belongings and left the island for good, hoping they’d never meet another bear.

Another Frog legend says a village was starving because no one could catch any fish or game, so a warrior went out to try to find some food.  The warrior met a bird who instructed him to follow, so he could help him. The bird brought him to a Frog, who let the warrior wear his skin. With the Frog skin, the warrior hunted enough food for the whole village but, as time passed, the warrior turned into a Frog, and he went to sea. There he lived until his last days and caught fish and other seafood for his people.