The term totem is normally used to designate a symbol (which can be real or abstract) representative of a culture or belief system. The notion of totem is native to different native cultures of Africa as well as America (and other spaces, although in a lesser presence), cultures that believed in divine characters that supposedly had the objective of protecting and caring for the members of society. Normally, these totems were mythological figures that could be animals or human or combine characteristics of both.
Although the totem is a mythological and almost fantastic representation of an animal or a non-real character, it can be represented in various ways in practice. In this sense, it is common for the native cultures of North America to build important wood or stone sculptures that were characterized by being narrow, very tall and very colorful at the same time. In them all the different characteristics of the totem character were represented and wings were added to symbolize its divine and extraterrestrial origin. These sculptures are today important tourist attractions, especially in some regions of North America where the native Indians left many traces.
The totems are the equivalent to the patterns of a society since the main objective of their presence is to ensure that all individuals are protected against possible evils or threats. In addition, the totem is what represents the values and tradition of that culture, which is why you can never speak of two equal totems.
It is usual to find that the totems of each culture are figuratively represented by wild animals or by animals that have some unique characteristic. This has to do with the importance that the cultures of other times gave to nature, as well as with the special bond of respect and admiration that they established with it.
