Activated abilities of creatures can't be activated.
Pass me from soul to soul, / soldier to herder, herder to beast, beast to soil / until I am everywhere. / Then pass me those souls. —Totem inscription (translated)
2016-06-08
Activated abilities contain a colon. They're generally written "[Cost]: [Effect]." Some keywords are activated abilities and will have colons in their reminder text.
2021-06-18
Activated abilities of noncreature permanents that would make them become creatures (such as a Vehicle's crew ability) can still be activated. Once they become creatures, any abilities they have cannot be activated.
2021-06-18
Cursed Totem doesn't stop players from activating abilities of creature cards that aren't on the battlefield, such as cycling or unearth.
2021-06-18
Cursed Totem stops players from activating mana abilities of creatures.
2021-06-18
Other abilities of creatures, including static abilities and triggered abilities, are unaffected.