The Haida people are an Indigenous group who have traditionally occupied Haida Gwaii, an archipelago just off the coast of British Columbia, for at least 12,500 years.
Haida has been the most common spelling since the late 1800s, but its name has been spelled several ways over the years: Haidah, Hai-dai, Hydah, Hyder, and Hydery, which can be translated "people." In the early 1700s, some Haida migrated to Alaska, where they referred to themselves as Kaigini. In their own language; they are known as X̱aayda, X̱aadas, X̱aad, or X̱aat.
For thousands of years, the Haida lived on Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands), which means "homeland" or "islands of the people," west of the Canadian province of British Columbia.
Today, most Canadian Haida live in two villages there called Old Masset (Gaaw) and Skidegate (Hlg̱aagilda). Old Masset is on the north end of Graham Island, while Skidegate is on the southeast corner. Alaska Haida live on Prince of Wales Island in southeast Alaska, just north of Haida Gwaii, mostly in the village of Hydaburg.
The Council of the Haida Nation is the elected government of the Haida Nation. The Council is made up of a president and a vice-president elected by popular vote, twelve regional representatives from four electoral regions, and one appointed representative from each of the Old Massett Village Council and Skidegate Band Council. Haida people in Prince Rupert (Kxeen) and Vancouver (T'agwan) are also represented on the Council.
The Kaigani Haida, in southern Alaska, are members of the Haida Nation but governed by the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska.
All Haida territories were in the past claimed by Russia, Spain, the United States, and Canada, and the Haida Nation is currently involved in a legal dispute regarding the islands of Haida Gwaii and the surrounding waters. The Haida Nations holds that the Crown has never legally acquired title to these areas, and has illegally infringed upon the Haida through the imposition of Canadian sovereignty and the extraction of resources under Canadian authority.
The Old Massett Village Council is one of two Canadian band governments of the Haida Nation. Old Massett (G̱aw) is a Haida village on Graham Island in Haida Gwaii, British Columbia. It is populated by Haida people from both Ḵuustak (Eagle matrilineage) and Ḵayx̱al (Raven matrilineage).
Also known as the Skidegate First Nation, the Skidegate Band Council is the other Canadian band government of the Haida Nation. Also located on Graham Island, Skidegate (Hlg̱aagilda) is on the southeast coast.
The Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska is a tribal government that was founded in 1935, although the Haida Nation and the Tlingit Nation have existed as separate and distinct people for thousands of years. Both tribes have a long history in Southeast Alaska. The Tlingit tribe occupies the southeastern and some coastal areas of Alaska, while the Haida are largely confined to Prince of Wales Island (Taan), although the Tlingit have a history on the island as well.
The Haida traded often with the Tlingit, but they sometimes warred with them, as well.
It is generally accepted that the ancestors of the Haida crossed the same land bridge between Russia and Alaska that the ancestors of other First Nations and American Indian tribes used around 800 AD, making their way to the Queen Charlotte Islands a few centuries later.
The Haida were (and are still) known for their intricately carved totem poles and other artistic endeavors, including ornate jewelry and weaving. Contemporary Haida are well-represented within the artistic community.
Historically, the Haida were also known for building powerful oceangoing canoes, and for their expertise on the water and in battle. They have been compared to the Vikings, in that they carried out frequent raids on coastal communities along the West Coast, as far south as Washington. They also took, kept, and sold captives into slavery.
The traditional religion of the Haida was both animistic and a nature religion, drawing heavily on the natural world and seasonal patterns. Although a variety of faiths are practiced by the Haida people today, pre-colonial beliefs remain popular.
Like many First Nation and American Indian languages, the traditional language of the Haida is endangered. Several generations of Haida were educated in residential schools in which traditional languages were banned. Today, few Haida speak the Haida language. Most of those who do are near the end of their lives, and at that, it is a more simplified version of the language than that which once existed. There are, of course, efforts underway to regenerate the use of the Haida language, but successes are reportedly minimal.
Recommended Resources
Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska
The tribal government represents more than 36,000 Tlingit and Haida Indians worldwide. Founded in 1935 to pursue a land-related lawsuit on behalf of both tribes, the Tlingit and Haida remain two separate nations sharing the ancestral lands that they have shared in southeastern Alaska since the last Ice Age. The Council's history, governmental organization, and its leadership, councils, commissions, assemblies, and delegates are identified, and contacts are provided.
https://www.ccthita.org/
The indigenous government of the Haida Nation (X̱aaydaG̱a Waadlux̱an Naay) includes the Old Massett Village Council, the Skidegate Band Council, and member individuals residing in Prince Rupert and Vancouver. The governance of the Nation, citizenship, and the Nation's constitution are featured on the site, along with an overview of the Haida language, stewardship, a calendar of events, news, public notices, press releases, webinars, and podcasts. Information on visiting is included.
https://www.haidanation.ca/
Gidansda Giindajin Haawasti Guujaaw (Gary Edenshaw) is of Gakyaais Kiiqawaay, a Haida family of the Ravel Moiety. He has achieved notoriety as a singer, wood carver, traditional medicine practitioner, and political activist. He has worked with the Council of the Haida Nation to secure the protection of some areas of the islands and has been involved in developing policies and strategies for the Nation. Examples of his work are featured on his site, and contacts are posted.
http://guujaaw.info/
With offices in Old Massett and Skidegate, the Trust Society owns and manages a multi-million-dollar perpetual fund for the benefit of all the people of Haida Gwaii. The fund generates investment income, and the Society distributes part of that income each year through a variety of grant programs. Grant and funding opportunities, featured projects, news, events, and an introduction to its governance, foundations, and boards are set forth, along with contacts.
https://gwaiitrust.com/
The Haida-owned, Alaska Native Village Corporation conducts business development and stewards resources, which include ancestral lands and sacred sites. Headquartered in Hydaburg, Alaska, its address, office hours, and contacts are published on the website, which includes its board of directors, distribution notices, shareholder updates, and carbon sequestration data. Its subsidiary, Haida Energy, is highlighted, and Early Bird Winners and Weekly Prize Winners are noted.
http://www.haidacorporation.com/
Formed by the Haida House of Assembly, through the Haida Independence Project, HaiCo is a national corporation that manages, grows, and governs the business enterprises of the Haida Nation in order to develop a sustainable economy on Xaayda Gwaay.yaay Haida Gwaii. Its brands include Taan Forest, Haida Tourism, Ocean House, Haida House, and Haida Wild, each of which is featured here, along with career opportunities, scholarship opportunities, and contacts.
https://www.haico.ca/
The Haida Gwaii Observer is a local news website that covers stories from Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada. Among its content are the latest news headlines, videos, photographs, and obituaries from the region, along with reports on community events, sports reports, entertainment venues, and opinion columns. Subscription and advertising opportunities are posted, news tips may be submitted, and contests are sometimes featured on the site, along with contacts.
https://www.haidagwaiiobserver.com/
Located in Skidegate, a community on Graham Island in Haida Gwaii, off the Pacific Coast of British Columbia, the premier cultural centre and museum is managed by Gwaalagaa Naay, an economic development branch of the Skidegate Band Council, the owners of the site. The Centre includes an interpretive centre, museum, exhibit space, a performing house, canoe house, carving shed, program management centre, gift shop, a restaurant, and a cafe, as well as the Bill Reid Teaching Centre.
https://www.haidaheritagecentre.com/
The Council of the Haida Nation Marine Planning Program (MPP) is staffed by marine planning professionals who provide expertise and technical support for CHN's marine planning and plan implementation initiatives, which are listed here, along with other issues, such as governance, culture, marine economy, vessel traffic, healthy oceans, and monitoring. Its Marine Planning Portal, traditional knowledge, sustainable marine economic development, and shipping data are included.
https://haidamarineplanning.com/
Born in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas is a descendant of Isabella and Charles Edenshaw, both influential Haida artists, and he is a visual artist, author, and public speaker whose work has been seen in public spaces, museums, galleries, and private collections across the globe. Yahgulanaas also has a long history of environmental activism and political involvement with the Old Massett Village Council and Council of the Haida Nation.
https://mny.ca/en/
The Old Massett Village Council is a band government of the Haida people. Several Indian reserves, settlements, and villages of various sizes are under the administration of the Council. The current council and staff are introduced, along with volunteer and employment opportunities, departments, economic development, and services. Chief Matthews School, a K/4 to Grade 5 School in Old Massett, is featured, and a calendar of events and contacts is published on the site.
https://oldmassettvillagecouncil.com/
Robert Charles Davidson (G̲uud San Glans) is a Canadian artist of Haida heritage and a leading figure in the renaissance of Haida art and culture. Known as a carver of totem poles and masks, a printmaker, painter, and jeweler, he lived near Vancouver and works out of a studio on Semiahmoo First Nation, although he was born in Hydaburg, Alaska. A biography, artist statement, awards, exhibitions, and galleries are featured, and some of his products are available for purchase online.
https://www.robertdavidson.ca/
Sarah's Haida Arts and Jewellery
Located on Haida Gwaii, the gallery showcases Haida carvers, painters, and weavers, and also offers clothing, prints, books, and jewelry. An introduction to its featured artists is provided, and available jewelry, artwork, Haida art, Haida wear, and giftware are featured in a shopping area and made available for online purchase. Artist galleries may be browsed, with artwork also available for purchase. Its location, directions, hours, and contacts are posted.
https://www.sarahshaidaarts.com/
Tlingit Haida Tribal Business Corporation
THTBC is a family of SBA 8(a), HUBZone, SDB, and other companies wholly owned by one of the largest tribes in Alaska. THTBC has long operated as a trusted U.S. federal contractor throughout the United States and worldwide. Tribally owned by the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, THTBC has a competitive edge in the U.S. federal government contracting space, including sole source contracts. Its history, career opportunities, and contacts are posted.
https://www.thtbc.com/
This website is focused on the study, preservation, and revitalization of the Haida language. Haida is an endangered language. While all Haidas were once fluent in their traditional language, today, the number of speakers is down to only a few dozen, all over the age of seventy. While Haida is a single language, there are a few different dialects, such as Southern Haida, as spoken in Skidegate, and Northern Haida, spoken in Masset and Hydaburg, as well as other local differences.
http://www.haidalanguage.org/
