These are mortuary poles.  In traditional times a niche was carved into the top of the pole and the ashes of the cremated deceased were sealed within.  Sometimes the entire corpse was encased within the niche.  The figure on the bottom is the largest and most important of the whole pole.  So, next time someone says "low man on a totem pole" educate them!!!!  One pole is represented twice in the pictures, can you tell which one it is?