Vancouver artist behind Google Doodle for National Indigenous Peoples Day

If you open Google on Saturday, art by a Vancouverite will show up on the homepage.

The Google Doodle for June 21 commemorating National Indigenous Peoples Day was created by Vancouver-based Tahltan artist Alano Edzerza. Titled “Celebrating Totem Poles,” the graphic depicts wooden animals shaped like the letters in Google—a frog, wolf, raven, eagle, bear, whale and thunderbird.

Edzerza’s art has been displayed in galleries around the world, and he even designed gear for Dutch athletes during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Now, his work will be seen by anyone in Canada who makes a Google search.

“More than artwork, totem poles are deeply symbolic narratives carved into wood. They tell stories, commemorate events, or represent a family’s lineage and crests. Many of these crests feature animals that represent kinship, identity and family history,” reads the webpage about the doodle.

“Colonization threatened totem poles with bans on various cultural practices, like the Potlatch, a ceremony where poles are raised. Today, beautiful totem poles are symbols of survival and resistance to cultural encroachment.”

Doodles are special Google logos that mark holidays or commemorate important people. Famous British Columbians who have been featured in Google Doodles include Terry Fox and Harry Jerome.