Constructions like that can be made, using the definite article to refer to a category of things - "the horse", "the television", and yes, "the totem pole".
You would not then group such a thing "into specific categories". You might group it with other things - "the horse may be grouped with the zebra and the donkey to form the family of equids", but not group it into.
To group something is to combine it. You wish to divide or split it:
The totem pole may be divided into specific categories, depending on...
On the other hand:
Totem poles may be grouped into specific categories...
(Note that the plural example may use grouped or divided equally, depending on whether you think of it as a singular group or a group of single things)