Origin of the Name

The name “Haida” comes from their own language, X̱aayda or X̱aadas, meaning “people.” The Haida are an Indigenous nation whose ancestral territory includes Haida Gwaii (formerly the Queen Charlotte Islands) off the northwest coast of British Columbia, Canada, and parts of Prince of Wales Island in southeast Alaska. The word reflects both their sense of identity and their deep connection to the land and sea.

Range

The Haida traditionally lived on the islands of Haida Gwaii, a remote archipelago rich in forests, rivers, and coastal waters. They also occupied parts of southern Alaska. Their environment provided an abundance of resources—towering cedar trees, salmon-filled rivers, and rich marine life—which allowed them to develop a complex and prosperous culture.

Diet

The Haida diet centered on the bounty of the ocean. Salmon, halibut, herring, sea otters, seals, and shellfish were staples, while seaweed and berries were also gathered. They preserved food by smoking and drying it, ensuring supplies through the winter. Deer and birds were occasionally hunted, but fishing remained the mainstay of their diet.

Home Type

The Haida built large cedar plank houses called longhouses, often elaborately carved and painted with family crests. Each house could shelter multiple families and was oriented toward the water. The great cedar trees of Haida Gwaii provided durable materials for both houses and totem poles—tall, carved monuments that told stories of lineage and legend.

Depiction of Haida Longhouse

Culture

Haida culture is renowned for its artistry, oral traditions, and intricate social structure. They are among the greatest carvers of the Pacific Northwest, famous for their canoes, masks, and totem poles. Society was organized into two main moieties: Raven and Eagle. Marriage was required between members of opposite moieties to maintain balance.

Their mythology features supernatural beings like Raven, a trickster and creator figure who brought light to the world. Potlatches—large ceremonial feasts—were central to Haida social life, serving as occasions to mark births, deaths, marriages, and the transfer of rights or titles. The Haida also developed complex songs, dances, and oral histories passed down through generations.

Haida Totem Poles

Haida totem poles are towering wooden sculptures that serve as visual stories of family lineage, historical events, and spiritual beliefs. Each figure carved into the pole—such as Raven, Bear, or Eagle—represents an ancestor, a mythical being, or an important event. Totem poles were traditionally placed in front of homes, in villages, or at gravesites. Carved from massive red cedar logs, they could reach over 60 feet high and were often brightly painted. Far from being idols of worship, these poles were a way for the Haida to record and honor their heritage, display clan crests, and preserve their oral traditions in visual form. Today, the creation and raising of totem poles remain a living art that symbolizes cultural pride and resilience.

A Totem Pole Tale

This is a traditional Haida story often told through the figures on a totem pole. The tale explains how Raven brought the sun, moon, and stars to the world. A totem pole might stack the characters as crests, allowing the story to be “read” from bottom to top.

Characters on the Pole

Bottom—The World in Darkness: A human village figure with downturned eyes shows a time when people lived in twilight, without sun or stars.

Bear (or Eagle) Clan: A clan crest figure holds the village, reminding viewers that the story belongs to a particular family’s heritage.

Grandfather (The Keeper of Light): A human elder clutching three round objects (sun, moon, stars) kept in bentwood boxes.

Raven: Trickster and transformer, with a long beak and curious eyes—sometimes shown holding a box or with a small child in his beak.

The Story: Raven Brings the Light

Long ago, the world was dim. An old man kept the light locked away in boxes inside his house to protect his beloved granddaughter. Raven, who hungers for new things, wanted that light for everyone.

Raven transformed himself into a spruce needle and drifted into the granddaughter’s drinking water. She swallowed the needle and soon gave birth to a small, dark-haired child—Raven in human form. The old man adored his grandson and could not refuse him. First he opened the box of stars, and the child tossed them into the sky. Then the box of the moon, which floated up to light the night. At last, the boy cried for the final box. When Grandfather opened it, the child seized the blazing sun and instantly turned back into Raven, flying through the smoke hole.

Raven carried the sun in his beak. The heat singed his feathers black, which is why ravens are dark today. He set the sun in the sky so all people, animals, and forests could see and live in balance.

Meanings & Teachings

Sharing and Responsibility: Light belongs to all; knowledge and resources should circulate for the wellbeing of the community.

Transformation: Raven’s shape-shifting shows that change, wit, and persistence can break stagnation.

Clan Identity: The Bear or Eagle figure situates the story within the lineage that has the right to tell it.

How to “Read” a Haida Totem Pole

Totem poles are not universal “books,” but family-owned histories. Figures can be read bottom-to-top or top-to-bottom depending on carver and context. Colors often include black, red, and blue-green. Hands, beaks, and eyes point to relationships—who holds what, who carries whom—revealing plot and kinship.

Warfare

Before European contact, the Haida were known as fierce warriors and expert seafarers. Their large war canoes, carved from single cedar logs, could hold up to 60 men and were used in raids along the Pacific Coast, from Alaska to California. Warfare was often carried out to avenge insults, capture slaves, or gain prestige. Their reputation for strength and skill earned them respect and fear among neighboring tribes.

History Timeline

• Pre-Contact (Before 1700s): Haida society flourished independently with thriving villages, trade networks, and artistic traditions.
• 1774–1787: European explorers and traders arrived, including Spanish and British expeditions. The Haida began trading furs for metal goods.
• 1780s–1860s: The maritime fur trade brought wealth but also devastating smallpox epidemics, which reduced the population dramatically.
• Late 1800s: Missionaries and government agents enforced assimilation policies, including residential schools and bans on potlatches.
• 1900s: Haida leaders began reclaiming land and cultural rights; traditional art and carving experienced a powerful revival.
• 1980s: The Haida Nation established the Council of the Haida Nation to represent their sovereignty and protect their homeland.
• 2000s–Present: The Haida Nation continues to assert its rights over Haida Gwaii, co-managing resources with the Canadian government and preserving its language, culture, and environment.

Discussion Questions

1. How did the natural environment of Haida Gwaii shape the Haida people's way of life and culture?
2. What role did totem poles and potlatches play in expressing Haida identity and values?
3. Why was Raven such an important figure in Haida mythology, and what lessons does his story teach?
4. How has the Haida Nation worked to preserve its sovereignty and cultural traditions in modern times?