Led by the Downtown Eastside Sacred Circle Society, The Survivor’s Totem Pole was a multi-year grassroots community art and action project. The Totem Pole pays tribute to Salish Nations and Urban Aboriginal people impacted by racism and other forms of exclusion. This final phase, in close partnership with the City and all three local First Nations, culminated at the 2016 DTES Heart of the City Festival. Haida carver Skundaal, the only female carver to apprentice with Bill Reid, completed the pole carving and painting with street involved youth and DTES heritage communities (Japanese, Chinese, First Nations). She also hosted a witnessing ceremony for local chiefs, elders and special guests, and made gifts for the Nov 5, 2016 Pole Raising Ceremony at Pigeon Park, attended by hundreds of members of the public.