1

Haida Social Organization
According to qiigang, or Haida legend, Raven the Trickster discovered the Haida at Naikun. Raven was on the shore when he heard a noise coming from a clamshell. He opened the shell with his beak and out came the First Men. Later, the mischievous and cheeky Raven created women by tossing chitons onto the men. Time passed and Haida society grew and evolved into the complex society of today.

2

The Haida are divided into two clans, k'waalaa, the Eagles, goud and the Ravens, yahl. We are matrilineal, inheriting our property and rights such as Haida names, songs, crests and rights to territories from our mothers. We are exogamous, meaning a Raven person must marry an Eagle person. This ties the two clans together.

3

Students at the Masset Day School.
1965
Old Massett, Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada

4

Ben and Ivy Bennett.
1960
Old Massett, Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada

5

Grace Wilson and her brother Edison Bell send their children off to residential school.
1950
Old Massett, Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada

6

There are approximately 6,000 Haidas living today. Less than 2,000 Haidas reside on Haida Gwaii now. We have survived such devastations as smallpox, residential schools and the anti-potlatch law.

7

Mathias and Leila Abrahams.
1975
Masset, Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada

8

Carrie and Joe Weir.
1960
Old Massett, Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada

9

Ethel Jones, Amanda and Jack Edgars.
1960
Old Massett, Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada

10

Deloris Churchill visits her sister in law Primrose Adams.
1960
Old Massett, Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada

11

Diane and Morris White in Vancouver.
1960
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

12

Ruth and Adam Bell's 50th wedding anniversary.
1973
Masset, Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada

13

Ernie and Winnie Yeltatzie's anniversary.
1993
Old Massett, Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada

14

Allan Wilson and Ernie Collison as young boys.
1967
Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada

15

Annabelle Jones (Wilson), Christine Bell (Carty), Sharon Hitchcock and Sara Hamilton.
1967
Old Massett, Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada

16

Mamie and Vinton Jones at a wedding.
1970
Masset, Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada

17

Robert Smith, George Kelly, Bil Hageman, Alex Jones, Tom Jones, Alfie Setso, Rober Edwards.
1960
Old Massett, Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada

18

Mickey Morrison and Sherri Dick.
2005
Old Massett, Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada

19

Tarah Samuels and Steven Brown recording Haida legends.
2005
Old Massett, Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada

20

It is amazing that the Haida culture and our social system have perservered! The people featured in this exhibit are proud survivors and Haida heroes.