Indigenous Languages & Traditions
The Haida people traditionally used this material to carve canoes, poles, and longhouses.
What is red cedar?
This large marine mammal, known for its black and white coloring, is a common sight in the Inside Passage.
What is an orca (killer whale)?
This English explorer mapped much of the BC coast, including Haida Gwaii, in the 1700s.
Who was Captain George Vancouver?
This Indigenous nation has lived in Haida Gwaii for thousands of years.
Who are the Haida?
Haida Gwaii was once known by this colonial name.
What is the Queen Charlotte Islands?
The Haida language belongs to this broader linguistic group.
What is the Na-Dene language family?
This fish is vital to the ecosystem and is a staple food source for many Indigenous communities.
What is salmon?
This ship, captained by James Cook, sailed to Haida Gwaii in 1778.
What is the HMS Resolution?
This traditional Haida dwelling is known for its massive cedar beams and family crests.
What is a longhouse?
This major city is the closest large urban center to Haida Gwaii.
What is Prince Rupert?
This traditional Haida practice involves hosting a massive feast to share wealth and honor guests.
What is a potlatch?
This mysterious bird, often associated with Haida myths, is known for its intelligence and trickster nature.
What is the raven?
This Spanish explorer sailed along the BC coast around the same time as Vancouver and had an island named after him.
Who was Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra?
The Haida are famous for these towering wooden carvings that tell stories of their ancestors.
What are totem poles?
Haida Gwaii was separated from the mainland during this era, when glaciers receded.
What is the last Ice Age?
The Haida creation story tells of this animal bringing light to the world.
What is the raven?
These massive creatures migrate thousands of kilometers to Alaska and are often spotted along the Inside Passage.
What are humpback whales?
The fur trade in the Inside Passage was largely driven by European demand for this type of pelts.
What is sea otter fur?
This Haida village, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is known for its ancient totems and historical significance.
What is SG̱ang Gwaay (Ninstints)?
According to Haida legend, this sea creature was said to drag canoes underwater.
What is the Wasgo (Sea Wolf)?
Haida artists are well known for this specific type of detailed, form-based artwork.
What is Haida formline art?
This white-colored bear, found only in parts of the BC coast, is known as the "Spirit Bear."
What is the Kermode bear?
This ill-fated ship sank off the coast of Haida Gwaii in 1851 with a fortune in gold.
What is the SS Pacific?
This Haida leader fought against smallpox and colonial oppression in the 19th century.
Who was Chief Albert Edward Edenshaw?
This natural event in 2012 caused Haida Gwaii to shift by several meters.
What is an earthquake?