well.... I'm not a north west coast native, so totem poles are not a part of my experience. But from what I do know about them, they represent the members of the clan for wich they are made, and the clans protectors. Some totem poles were put at the corners and as the entry into the clans houses. Some were left in special places outside the village and so on depending on tribe.
Many still stand quietly decaying in the forests where they were left, some more than a century ago... ahh. the joy of ceader
Color and style are of the north west coast traditions and you would have to seek the advice of an actual artisan to learn that.
hope this helps... as a general over view, I didn't want to write a disertation on the subject. :lol:
wa:do