A totem pole that has stood on the grounds of the Manitoba legislature for more than 50 years has come down.

The five-metre-high pole was unveiled in 1971 to mark the 100th anniversary of British Columbia’s entry into Confederation.

It was made by Henry Hunt, a First Nations carver from coastal B.C., and depicts a legend of Indigenous people from the West Coast.

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The Manitoba government says the pole deteriorated over time and has been removed from its base.

In keeping with tradition, it is to be laid in a raised planter bed, where it will decay and return to the earth.

Premier Wab Kinew says an important part of reconciliation is recognizing and honouring traditional Indigenous cultures.

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