Haida people

The Haida (English: /ˈhaɪdə/, Haida: X̱aayda, X̱aadas, X̱aad, X̱aat) are an indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest Coast of North America. They are one of many First Nations in British Columbia and tribes in Alaska. Their home is Haida Gwaii, a group of islands off the coast of British Columbia, and part of Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska.

The Haida are known for their skills in making beautiful carvings and woven baskets. They were also good traders and sailors. Their language, Haida, is very different from other nearby languages. Today, the Haida in Canada are represented by the Council of the Haida Nation (CHN), the Old Massett Village Council, and the Skidegate Band Council. In the United States, groups like the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska keep Haida traditions alive.

Haida governments

The Council of the Haida Nation helps make decisions for the Haida First Nations in Canada. This includes the Old Massett Village Council and the Skidegate Band Council, both in British Columbia.

In the United States, Haida people have groups that are recognized by the government. These include the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes, the Hydaburg Cooperative Association, and the Organized Village of Kasaan, all located in Alaska.

History

Precontact

The Haida people have lived in Haida Gwaii for a very long time. Their stories include important figures like SGuuluu Jaad (Foam Woman), Jiila Kuns (Creek Woman), and KalGa Jaad (Ice Woman). They have strong traditions of telling stories and their history shows they lived near glaciers and saw the first tree, a lodgepole pine, arrive in Haida Gwaii. People may have lived there as early as 13,100 years ago.

For thousands of years, the Haida had a special way of sharing wealth and making decisions called the Potlatch. About 7,500 years ago, red cedar trees came to the islands, and Haida society grew around this wood. Big carved cedar monuments and large cedar houses became common.

In the early 1700s, Haida people from K'iis Gwaii moved to the southern part of Prince of Wales Island in Alaska, near Tlingit territory. This group became known as the Kaigani Haida.

18th century

In July 1774, Haida people met Europeans for the first time. A Spanish explorer named Juan Pérez was sailing north for Spain. His ship waited near Haida Gwaii for calm weather. Haida people came out in canoes to greet and trade with Pérez and his crew. Bad weather made the ship leave without going ashore.

The Haida traded with many groups, including Russian, Spanish, British, and American traders and whalers. They built strong trade relationships. In 1787, a British captain named George Dixon traded sea-otter pelts with the Haida, and this trade continued until the mid-1800s.

Though they traveled far, the Haida mostly avoided fights with Europeans at first. But between 1780 and 1830, they sometimes fought with European and American traders. They captured many ships and used weapons like cannons.

19th century

In 1850, gold was found on southern Haida Gwaii. A Haida man was told where to find gold by an elder woman in Skidegate. This led to a gold rush in 1851, bringing American prospectors to the area. The Haida joined in the gold mining. In response, British leaders claimed Haida Gwaii in 1853. It became part of the Colony of British Columbia in 1858.

Also in 1857, a battle happened when Haida and Tongass warriors were attacking Coast Salish people. Later, a small group from Kake, Alaska killed a settler named Colonel Isaac Ebey in response to a past attack.

Smallpox epidemic of 1862

The 1862 Pacific Northwest smallpox epidemic began in March when a ship arrived in Fort Victoria from San Francisco carrying someone with smallpox. The disease spread quickly among Tsimshian people and then across the region. Many Haida people were displaced. The disease continued to spread when a miner carried it to Haida Gwaii.

The sickness destroyed many villages and families. Before the epidemic, there were about 6,607 Haida, but by 1881, only 829 remained. The only villages left were Massett and Skidegate. The loss of people weakened Haida power.

Arrival of missionaries

Starting in the mid-1800s, missions were set up on Haida Gwaii to teach the Haida about Christianity. The first missionary visited in 1829. Later, missions were started in the 1870s and 1880s, with the first permanent mission opening in Masset in 1876 and another in Skidegate in 1883.

Potlatch ban

Main article: Potlatch ban

Missionaries did not like the potlatch and wanted to replace it with Christian ceremonies. By the 1880s, potlatches were often held in secret. In 1884, the government made potlatches illegal. This hurt Haida culture and many important cultural items were destroyed or taken away.

20th century

The government started sending some Haida children to schools far away as early as 1911. These schools were meant to change Haida culture.

In 1911, Canada and British Columbia refused a Haida offer to join Canada.

Lyell Island protests

Main articles: Lyell Island and Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site

In November 1985, Haida people protested logging on Haida Gwaii by setting up a blockade on Lyell Island. A two-week standoff happened, and 72 Haida people were arrested. Images of elders being arrested helped gain support across Canada. In 1987, Canada and British Columbia created Gwaii Haanas National Park, which is managed together with the Haida Nation.

The blockade was featured in Christopher Auchter’s 2024 documentary film The Stand.

21st century

In December 2009, British Columbia changed the name of the archipelago from Queen Charlotte Islands to Haida Gwaii. The Haida Nation continues to work toward full control over Haida Gwaii, negotiating with governments. Haida leaders make laws and manage activities on the islands, focusing on protecting land and water. Nearly 70% of Haida Gwaii is protected. They have also reduced large industrial activities.

In British Columbia, “Haida Nation” refers to the Haida people and their government, the Council of the Haida Nation. All people of Haida ancestry, including the Kaigani from Alaska, are part of this group.

In 2024, British Columbia officially gave more than 200 islands to the Haida people, recognizing their land rights.

Culture

Language

Main article: Haida language

The Haida language is a special language. In the past, people could not speak Haida in schools. But starting in the 1970s, people worked to bring the Haida language back. Today, only a few older people still speak Haida.

Potlatch

Main article: Potlatch

The Haida hold special gatherings called potlatches. These events are important for sharing gifts and celebrating special moments. Preparing for a big potlatch can take many years.

Art

The Haida are known for their beautiful artwork. They create large wooden carvings like totem poles, colorful blankets, and jewelry. Today, young Haida artists also make art in new ways, like drawing stories in comic book style called Haida manga.

The Haida also made special treasures and created totem poles to tell family stories. Well-known Haida artists include Bill Reid, Robert Davidson, Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas, and Freda Diesing.

Transformation masks

Transformation masks are special masks used in ceremonies. They show animals changing into other animals or spirits. These masks were worn by dancers and told stories. Many masks were taken by others in the past.

Film

In 2018, the first movie made entirely in the Haida language, The Edge of the Knife, was released. The movie was directed by Haida artist Gwaai Edenshaw and Helen Haig-Brown.

Christopher Auchter, the nephew of Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas, has made several films about the Haida.

Social organization

Moieties

The Haida were divided into two groups, called the Raven and the Eagle. People could not marry someone from their own group. Children would belong to the mother’s group. Each group had its own special places for fishing, hunting, and living.

Gender

In the past, men did jobs like fishing and building homes. Women stayed closer to home, taking care of the house and weaving clothes.

Both boys and girls sometimes went on special journeys alone in the forest.

Religion

Haida beliefs include many different ideas today. Some Haida people follow Christianity, while others believe in older Haida ways. One important belief is in a spirit called Ne-kilst-lass, who appears as a Raven.

Warfare

Before meeting Europeans, the Haida were known as strong warriors. Battles sometimes happened for many reasons. Warriors who died in battle were honored.

The Haida used weapons like bows and arrows. They wore strong armor to protect themselves in battle.

Notable Haida

• Primrose Adams (1926–2020), artist
• Delores Churchill (b. 1929), artist, basketweaver
• Marcia Crosby, art historian
• Cumshewa, 18th century chief
• Florence Davidson (1896–1993), artist and memoirist
• Reg Davidson (b. 1954), carver
• Robert Davidson (b. 1946), carver
• Tamara Davidson, politician, MLA for North Coast-Haida Gwaii
• Freda Diesing (1925–2002), carver
• Charles Edenshaw (1839–1920), carver, jeweler and painter
• Gidansda Guujaaw (b. 1953), artist and politician, former President of the Council of the Haida Nation
• Dorothy Grant, artist, fashion designer
• Jim Hart (b. 1952), hereditary chief of Stasstas Eagle Clan, artist
• Koyah (fl. 1787–1795), chief
• Gerry Marks, artist
• Bill Reid (1920–1998), carver, sculptor and jeweler
• Jay Simeon (b. 1976), artist
• Skaay, historian and storytelling expert
• Evelyn Vanderhoop (b. 1953), weaver
• Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson, lawyer and artist
• Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas (b. 1954), artist
• Don Yeomans (b. 1958), artist

Anthropologists and scholars

Many smart people have studied the Haida people and learned about their lives and traditions. Some of these researchers include:

• Marius Barbeau
• Franz Boas
• Robert Bringhurst
• Wilson Duff
• Christie Harris
• Charles Hill-Tout
• Bill Holm
• Robert Bruce Inverarity
• Charles F. Newcombe
• John R. Swanton
• Nancy J. Turner
• Marianne Boelscher Ignace