Timing displayed by totem poles (5)
I believe the answer is:
tempo
'timing' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'displayed by totem poles' is the wordplay.
'displayed by' says the answer is hidden in the clue.
'TEMPO' can be found hidden inside 'totem poles'.
(Other definitions for tempo that I've seen before include "Musical time" , "(Musically) the speed to be played" , "Speed or beat, musically" , "What a metronome provides" , "Rhythm or speed as in music" .)