Haida Gwaii
British Columbia
Haida Gwaii ("Islands of the People"), is an archipelago on the North Coast of British Columbia, Canada. Haida Gwaii consists of two main islands: Graham Island in the north, and Moresby Island in the south, along with approximately 150 smaller islands.
Old Massett is a Haida village located on the northern coast of Graham Island with the population of approximately 982. Old Massett has an elementary school; high school students attend Gudangaay Tlaats’gaa Naay Secondary School in Masset. Skidegate is the Haida village located on the southeast coast of Graham Island with the population of approximately 709. Children attend Sk’aadgaa Naay Elementary; high school students attend GidGalang Kuuyas Naay Secondary in Queen Charlotte City, about 9 kilometers west of Skidegate.
Haida, X̱aayda Kil (South) or Xaad Kil (North), is the ancestral language of the Haida people. While nearly everyone agrees that there is only a single Haida language, there are some noticeable dialectal differences between communities. In modern times, the greatest difference is between Southern Haida, as spoken in Skidegate, and Northern Haida, spoken in Masset and Old Massett.
Both communities are dedicated to their language and work hard to protect and practice it.
MORE INFO:
Skidegate Haida Immersion Program
Reasons to Brag
2015
Anni Koenig, Taylor Lantin & Zaya Zaleska creators of Body Image won Second Prize in the 13-16 age category
Haida Gwaii Films
2019
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2009
Blog
2019
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