Haida

Haida refers to the Indigenous people of the Haida Gwaii archipelago and to their language and cultural traditions. Most Haida live on Haida Gwaii, off the northwest coast of British Columbia, Canada, with communities including Masset and Skidegate. Smaller Haida populations are found on northern Vancouver Island and in Alaska.

Historically, Haida society was organized around two moieties, Raven and Eagle, with clans and lineages shaping marriage, inheritance, and leadership. The Haida are noted for advanced woodworking, seafaring canoes, and cedar architecture, including carved house posts and bentwood boxes. Haida art is renowned for masks, totem poles, and other carved objects. Ceremonial feasts and potlatches were central to social and economic life.

Contact with Europeans began in the late 18th century, bringing trade and disease that reduced populations. In Canada, colonial policies suppressed Haida practices such as the potlatch into the 20th century. In recent decades, the Haida Nation has pursued governance and rights through legal action, including Haida Nation v. British Columbia (2004), which affirmed government duties to consult with Indigenous peoples on resource development and supported recognition of Aboriginal title in specific contexts.

Language revitalization remains a priority; the Haida language is endangered and taught in community programs and schools. Cultural preservation efforts are supported by institutions such as the Haida Heritage Centre at Skidegate, which teaches language, carving, weaving, and traditional crafts. Today the Haida participate in modern economies through arts, tourism, fisheries, and stewardship of Haida Gwaii's natural and cultural resources.