yes, they are questrewards!
go see the shaman trainer, which can be found in your starting town. he will give you a quest where you are to find a earth totem or something somewhere close.
just run around in the area that your quest log points you to, and when you find it, drink the potion your shaman trainer gave you. it will enable you to see a elemental. speak with him, and get the earth totem
the quest for the other totems comes later, and are simular to the first one
