The colonial nameQueen Charlotte Islands[1] or the contemporary Indigenous nameHaida Gwaii ("Islands of the People"), and originally in Haida, Xhaaidlagha Gwaayaai ("islands on the edge of the world" or "coming out of concealment"), is an archipelago outside the territorial sea off the northwest coast of British Columbia, Canada, and south of the State of Alaska,consisting of two main islands, Graham Island in the North, and Moresby Island in the south, and approximately 150 smaller islands with a total landmass of 10,180 km² (3,932 sq mi). Other major islands include Kiis Gwaii also known as Langara, Louise, Lyell, Burnaby, and Kunghit Island The islands are separated from the coastline of British Columbia to the east by a 26 miles body of water called Seegay or also known as the Hecate Strait. Vancouver Island lies to the south, across Queen Charlotte Sound, the U.S. state of Alaska is to the north, across the Dixon Entrance.
Some of the land, including the homelands of some of the Haida peoples, is protected under Haida legislation. Additionally Canadian legislation makes specific orders concerning the activities of its citizens within Haida territories. A unique agreement signed by Canada and the Haida and endorsed by both the Canadian parliament and the Haida House of Assembly clearly indicates that Canada recognizes the existence of an Indigenous body of Laws. See Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site.
The islands are home to an abundance of wildlife, including the largest subspecies of black bear (Ursus americana carlottae) and the subspecies of stoat Mustela erminea haidarum. The black-tailed deer, muskrat, squirrel, rat, frogs and raccoon are introduced species that have become abundant and problematic for sea and land bird populations. One of the world's largest rat eradication programs took place on Kiis Gwaii Langara Island. Notwithstanding the eradication concerns remain that sportsfishing camps encouraged by the Province of BC and based on this island risks re introduction of rats.
Economy
The cash economy is blended, including art and natural resources, primarily logging and commercial fishing. Furthermore, service industries and government jobs provide about one-third of the jobs, and tourism has become a more prominent part of the economy in recent years, especially for fishing and tour guides, cycling, camping, and adventure tourism.
Population
At the time of colonial contact, the population was roughly 10,000 to 60,000 peoplecitation needed, residing in several dozen winter towns and numerous summer villages. Approximately ninety percent of the population died during the 1800s from exposure to smallpox; other diseases arrived as well, including typhoid, measles, and syphilis, affecting many more inhabitants and unlike the Cowichian Nation which enjoyed the advocacy of the local Missionary, no medical or immunizations were provided by Canada. By 1900, only 350 people remained. Towns were abandoned as people consolidated in the winter towns of Skidegate and Masset or cannery towns in Canada. Today, some 5000 people live on the islands. Indigenous People (Haida) live throughout the islands, and are remain concentrated around Skidegate and Old Masset, each with a population of about 1000. Anthony Island and Ninstints were made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006; in the decision, the decline in population wrought by disease was referenced when citing the 'vanished civilization' of the Haida.[2]
European exploration
Although there is oral evidence of early contacts between Chinese and Spanish, the first European record was that the archipelago was visited in 1774 by Juan Pérez (at Kiusta and Dadens) and in 1778 by the english Captain James Cook. In 1787 the islands were surveyed by Captain George Dixon. The islands were called the Queen Charlotte Islands by Captain Dixon after one of his ships, the Queen Charlotte, which was named after Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III of the United Kingdom.
The name Haida Gwaii is of modern coinage and was created as an alternative to the colonial name "Queen Charlotte Islands", to recognize the history of the Haida Nation. "Haida Gwaii" means "our land", while "Haida" on its own means not only "us" but also "people".
No longer in common usage is the more ancient and original name of 'Xaadala Gwayee' or, in alternative orthography, 'Xhaaydla Gwaayaay', meaning Islands on the Xhaaydla, that is to say, Islands on the Boundary between Worlds, 'Worlds' referring here to the forest, sea, and sky; indeed, the coastal villages of the Haida occur along the meeting of forest, sea, and sky. Additional commentary suggests that the ancient name also means "coming out of concealment".
Natural setting
The archipelago seems to have escaped much of the glaciation of the last ice age. That, and its subsequent isolation from the mainland, has produced what some call the "Galápagos of the North," a unique biological zone with many endemic animals and plants. Its climate, like that of the rest of the British Columbia and Alaskan coast in the area, is moderated by the prevailing south east winds and the Kuroshio Current, and features considerable precipitation and relatively mild temperatures throughout the year.
The Yakoun River, the largest on Graham Island, was the site of Kiidk'yaas (meaning "ancient tree"), the only naturally occurring golden Sitka Spruce in the world. The Golden Spruce was sacred to the Haida people, as well as a popular tourist attraction. The 500-year-old tree was illegally cut down by a Canadian Grant Hadwin on January 22, 1997, as an apparent political protest against Canadian-government-sanctioned logging companies.[3]
The islands are home to a wide variety of other large native trees, including the beautiful Western Redcedar, Yellow Cedar(Nootka Cypress), Shore Pine, Western Hemlock, Mountain Hemlock, and some of the largestRed alder in tje world.
Another rare natural occurrence that arrived in 1985, the same year that the Haida Nation finally halted Canadian licenced logging, was Yelth aadaas, the White Raven. This was an albino raven that was often mistaken for an eagle or seagull owing to its unusual colouring. The White Raven lived around Port Clements, the first non Haida community to formally support the Haida blockades. It died after making contact with an electrical transformer, temporarily knocking out power to the town and surrounding area.
Earthquake hazards
The archipelago is located along the Queen Charlotte Fault, which is an active transform fault that produces significant earthquakes every 3–30 years. The fault is the underwater meeting of the Pacific and North American Plates along Duu Guusd, the west coast of the archipelago. The largest recorded earthquake occurred in 1949, with a magnitude of 8.1 on the Richter Scale. The earthquake tipped cows, toppled chimneys, sent the land rolling like water, and an oil tank at Cumshewa Inlet collapsed.[4] The most recent notable earthquakes were in January 2008, measuring up to 6.5.
Culture
Haida Heritage Centre at Kaay Llnagaay
Visual arts
The artwork known as Haida Gwaii, by Bill Reid, is featured on the reverse of the Canadian $20 bill.[5] The piece depicts the Spirit of Haida Gwaii in a canoe, accompanied by the mythic messengers. Haida art is also frequently seen on large monumental sized cedar totem poles and dugout canoes, hand crafted gold and silver jewelry, and even in a new idiom called Haida Manga.
Haida language
The Haida language has been classified as part of the Nadene family of languages on the basis of a few similarities with Athabaskan-Eyak-Tlingit. Many linguists consider the evidence inconclusive and continue to regard Haida as an language isolate. All 50 remaining speakers of Haida are over 70.
An island institution created out of the 1985 logging blockade is the Gwaii Trust. In conjunction with Telusthe Trust recently completed a project to bring broadband internet to the island via a 150 kilometre microwave relay. This enables interactive research to be carried out on the more than 80 CDs of language, story and spoken history of the people.
Transportation
The main transportation links between the Islands and the Canadian mainland British Columbia are the BC Ferries terminal at Skidegate, the Masset Airport, and the Sandspit Airport. No direct Island to Alaska commercial transportation is available. The island highway connects Masset and Skidegate on Graham Island, and Skidegate with Prince Rupert on the mainland via regular BC Ferries service by the MV Queen of Prince Rupert and MV Northern Adventure. There is also regular Ferry service between Skidegate and Alliford Bay on Moresby Island. Floatplane services connect to facilities such as the Alliford Bay Water Aerodrome and Masset Water Aerodrome.
See also
References
External links
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