We visited two former Haida village sites while we were at the park: Skedans and SGaang Gwaay. Skedans is the Northernmost and thus our first stop. The anchorage is for fair weather only and has a kelp forest in parts.
We were guided through the site by the Haida Watchmen along with a tour group that had come in an inflatable. It was very cool at the time, but now, as I am writing, I have seen SGaang Gwaay and Skedans is a shadow in comparison.
The Haida numbered about 3000 until the small pox epidemic killed 90% of them. The remaining 300 or so Haida left their ancient village sites and banded together in a few areas near what is now Queen Charlotte City.
Skedans gives a sense of that emptiness – of a village, once packed with people, abandoned and now slowly rotting into the earth.
Some images: A longhouse, a potlatch pole, and a totem pole:
We were guided through the site by the Haida Watchmen along with a tour group that had come in an inflatable. It was very cool at the time, but now, as I am writing, I have seen SGaang Gwaay and Skedans is a shadow in comparison.
The Haida numbered about 3000 until the small pox epidemic killed 90% of them. The remaining 300 or so Haida left their ancient village sites and banded together in a few areas near what is now Queen Charlotte City.
Skedans gives a sense of that emptiness – of a village, once packed with people, abandoned and now slowly rotting into the earth.
Some images: A longhouse, a potlatch pole, and a totem pole:
No comments:
Post a Comment