I had the wrong impression of arms in the U.S., MacLowlife, and it makes a lot more sense, now. The primer helped a whole lot. As usual, the whole thing had to be turned inside-out from the impression I had from reading things on the forum.

As far as totem, I think it is all in the way the beast is presented, like in a specific way on a shield, that makes it heraldry, and that is discussed in the primer on page three, and a few other places.

Strangely, I find it mildly intriguing now that I know it is a long standing tradition for an individual to assume arms in the U.S.