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| Hand made Haida canoe paddles. Photo: Rick Hulbert |
Haida Gwaii translates to
“islands of the people". The two main islands in Haida Gwaii, Graham
Island to the north and Moresby Island to the south, are among approximately
150 smaller Islands making up this breathtaking archipelago.
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| Haida Gwaii black bear |
Haida
Gwaii is also referred to as the Galapagos of the North. During the
last glaciation of BC, ice in Haida Gwaii receded about 2000 years earlier than
the rest of the province. This resulted in some plants and animals evolving
into genetically distinct species like the Haida Gwaii black bear, the largest
known subspecies of black bear.
The iconic images of Haida Gwaii
you see are usually of SGang Gwaay - a UNESCO World Heritage Site located
at the southern-most point of Moresby Island. It is a magical place where
we contemplate what life must have been like in this 19th-century, sea-side
Haida village.
Our Haida Watchman guides take us
through the village site to interpret the longhouse, middens, mortuary and
memorial poles and the bounty that the location offered. It is just one of the
village sites that we visit on our Haida Gwaii expeditions.
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| A visit to SGang Gwaay. Photo: R Burke |
Since 1993, Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve has been protected from the ocean floor to the mountain peaks and is co-managed by the Haida Nation and the Canadian Government. A new plan called Gwaii Haanas - Land, Sea People Plan was introduced in 2018. It oversees the management of the archipelago, "unimpaired" for the "education and enjoyment of future generations". Central to the vision for the protection of Gwaii Haanas is "the recognition that land, sea and people are interconnected."
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| Captain Gold Photo: T Thayer |
Captain
Gold, a Historian, the founding Watchman and Bluewater Adventures Resource
Guide, travelled with us on Island Roamer in June 2019. He regaled us with
Haida history, shared his proud knowledge and passion for the Islands and
introduce us to the rich marine and plant life of Haida Gwaii.
We are grateful for the friendships that have been forged over the years with esteemed biologists, carvers, historians, Elders and conservationists.
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tuned to hear about the 2020 Season and who will be leading each trip!
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