Folklore context refers to where and when people interact with folklore. It asks what roles group members play in creating and sharing the text (Sims & Stephens 2011). Totem poles are a ceremonial ritual in the Lummi tribe.

A ritual is defined as a type of tradition that is habitual, done over and over again, and holds purpose. rituals are also typically done in a group (Sims & Stephens 2011). and with totem carving, the group would be the carvers working on the project, sometimes there is a hierarchy, as there may be many young carvers who are there to help out a master carver but it is not necessary to make a totem pole. There is also the group that paints the totem pole, the group that raises the totem pole, and the group that blesses the totem pole, and all of these people are typically from different groups who all come together to perform this ritual.