The 30ft, two-and-half ton pole - a gift from Canada in 1969 - is in a 'delicate' condition in a council storage unit due to be bulldozed next year.
Campaigners say they need £30,000 to restore it to its former glory and put it on public display in Salford Quays as a show of civic pride.
The pole - originally given to Manchester Liners as a symbol of friendship by the Cree Indians - has rarely been seen by the general public.
It was shipped over from Canada and kept in the gardens of the company - meaning only staff could see it.
OOCL, the company that took over Manchester Liners, decided in 2005 to take down the pole for health and safety reasons.
They moved it to their depot in Felixstowe, Sussex, before bringing it back to Salford on a flat-bed truck in 2006.
Since then it has remained out of sight in a council storage unit on an industrial estate in Ordsall.
But the estate is due to be bulldozed next year to make way for a new school.
Now, with the backing of native Canadian Cree Andrew Big Smoke, city councillor and American Indian enthusiast Steve Coen, is hoping to get the pole restored to its former glory.
Steve said: "The pole is showing signs of wear and tear and is quite delicate now. It needs expert restoration and we are hoping to invite over the nephew of the Cree Indian who carved it to supervise the work.
"Andrew visited the pole while touring the UK giving talks about the environment. He was impressed with it and believes it is worth saving.
"OOCL have donated £2,000 towards the cost of restoring the pole, but if it is to be relocated on the Quays, where the public can see it with an information board and lighting the cost would be about £30,000.
"I am looking for a company to help with the costs and with MediaCity planned at the Quays, we are hopeful that the money can be found."
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i'd like to see the planned costs that amout to £30000!
its a lump of wood thats been carved and painted!
it would be cheaper to send it back to canada to have it restored where it was created and sent back!
I'm at a bit of a loss to understand why the council has been storing the pole ? From the article it I am guessing that this was 'dumped' on the council by it's owners, who have graciously donated £2K for the renovation - whoopee. SOrry, but at this point in time I think that the council have far more important things to spend that kind of money on.
Give it a quick paint and varnish then replace the B of the Bang.
Will they swap it for a second hand "B-OF-THE-BANG" We will have that in east manchester instead of the bang....at least nothing will fall off it and kill somebody?