Ninstints

Ninstints, or SG̱ang Gwaay Liid, is an ancient Haida village site located on Anthony Island in Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada. It is one of the most significant and well-preserved remnants of Haida village life and is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site.

Location and setting: The site sits on the west coast of Anthony Island, at the southern end of Haida Gwaii. It lies within the Gwaii Haanas protected area, which combines park reserve lands with Haida heritage sites and governance.

History and features: The village was inhabited for centuries before Euro-American contact, with major construction of carved house posts and totem poles in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Today, many upright and fallen poles and house posts remain, reflecting the Haida cedar-carving tradition and the social structure of the community. The site preserves the layout of a coastal Haida village with clusters of structures along the shoreline.

Cultural significance and preservation: Ninstints is valued for its exceptionally well-preserved collection of totem poles and house posts, offering insights into Haida art, ceremonial life, and clan-based organization. Access is restricted and regulated to protect the poles from weathering and vandalism; visitors typically reach the site by boat or small aircraft as part of guided tours, with strict guidelines in place.

UNESCO status: Ninstints is part of the UNESCO World Heritage designation for Gwaii Haanas, recognized for its outstanding universal value in documenting Haida culture and the archaeological record of coastal village life.