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Contrary to popular belief When totem poles are created the more important people/animals/items go near the bottom and the least important go at the top. The Indians created this tradition because they believed the the more important should be easier to see rather than the least important..
"Vertical order of images is widely believed to be a significant representation of importance. This idea is so pervasive that it has entered into common parlance with the phrase "low man on the totem pole." This phrase is indicative of the most common belief of ordering importance, that the higher figures on the pole are more important or prestigious. A counterargument frequently heard is that figures are arranged in a "reverse hierarchy" style, with the most important representations being on the bottom, and the least important being on top. Actually there have never been any restrictions on vertical order, many poles have significant figures on the top, others on the bottom, and some in the middle. Other poles have no vertical arrangement at all, consisting of a lone figure atop an undecorated column." - Taken from wikipedia. Other sources - NCIS and my granddad (a historian in this subject)