What’s Up With the Name?

At a music festival, a totem is a personalized home-made sign that allows friends to find one another in a crowd. It’s a beacon that means a lot to a group of friends and keeps them together. We love the metaphor and think it makes a lot of sense for what we want to do.

We also want to recognize that the word “totem” is rooted in cultures indigenous to North America. They are monumental poles with many carved designs that can tell stories. We hope to help young people add to their stories as well.