The Spirit Pole was the beginning of Carey’s community engaged artistic practice. Over 13 weeks, he and his team travelled to over 50 communities in the province, from Victoria to Cranbrook, to Fort Nelson. At each stop, individuals from the community were invited to carve a chip from the pole. The Spirit Pole was unveiled at the Cowichan 2008 Opening Ceremonies at the North American Indigenous Games, and remains as a permanent legacy within that community today.