2015 HOUSE OF INTERLOCKING THINKING IN ASSEMBLY PROGRESSIVE HAIDA pg 5 CHANGE pg 8 pg 7 HAIDA LAAS Newsletter of the Council of the Haida Nation December 2015 Haida Laas - Newsletter of the Council of the Haida Nation

COUNCIL OF THE HAIDA NATION POLLING PLACES & TIMES

Regular poll - December 12 (9:00 am to 9:00 pm)

POLLING PLACES HAIDA LAAS NEWSLETTER of the COUNCIL OF THE HAIDA NATION Old Massett published by the Adult Day Program - 510 Nannii Street Council of the Haida Nation Skidegate Managing Editor Simon Davies Council of the Haida Nation office - #1 Reservoir Rd. Layout & Web Development Prince Rupert Mare Levesque Highliner Hotel - 815 First Avenue West Writer Graham Richard Vancouver Vancouver Pentecostal Church - 304 East 26th Avenue

[email protected] p.250.559.4468

Council of the Haida Nation The best of the season to everyone who loves . Administrator from the Council of the Haida Nation representatives & staff Box 589, Old Massett Haida Gwaii V0T 1M0 p.250.626.5252 f.250.626.3403 The best of the season to everyone who loves Haida Gwaii. 1.888.638.7778 from Council of the Haida Nation representatives & staff [email protected]

Council of the Haida Nation President Box 98, Queen Charlotte Haida Gwaii V0T 1S0 p.250.559.4468 f.250.559.8951 1.877.559.4468 [email protected]

December 2015 www.haidanation.ca

Cover Photo: Jags Brown – Photo above: Mary Helmer

2 December 2015 Photo: Haida Laas/Graham Richard New appointments

Cliff Fregin Bob Brash HaiCo Chairperson HaiCo Chief Executive Officer

Theo Assu Kelly Russ Workshop participants included Stanley Swanson, Museum Director Scott Marsden, Archie Stocker, Nadine Wilson, Camille HaiCo Board Member HaiCo Board Member Collinson, Gid Yahk’ii Sean Young, Staast David Vanderhoop, Yaahl Xunjuuaas Robert Kennedy, Jonas Prevost, and teach- ers Carole Dignard and Tara Grant. To have and to hold The many Haida objects stored in display them in ways to keep them safe. This collections around Haida Gwaii will now included packing and shipping basics and Sk’aal Ts’iid James Cowpar Gwaii Trust Chairperson benefit from improved care since ten some facility maintenance training. Haida took part in an Aboriginal Culture “The course was great. We learned a lot HaiCo extends a warm welcome to new Centre workshop at Xaayda Sahlinda about proper handling and storage, which board members Theo Assu, Kelly Russ Naay the Haida Gwaii Museum. is the most useful information for my line and Chairperson Cliff Fregin. They will The students completed a two-day of work,” said Camille Collinson, Gwaii join HaiCo’s four other members; Tamara workshop held Oct 14-15 with instruction Haanas Cultural Resource Management Davidson, Paul Wates, April Churchill, and from teachers Carole Dignard and Tara Grant Advisor. “Gwaii Haanas artifacts and Shawn Thomas. Leaving the board after years of the Canadian Conservation Institute. archaeological objects are all stored in the of service are Gahlaay Lonnie Young and The participants learned how to recognize Haida Gwaii Museum, so it was great to Chairperson Roslyn Kunin. and slow the deterioration of aging cultural learn about all that.” HaiCo also announces that Bob Brash was objects and how to handle, store, and the successful candidate for the position of Chief Executive Officer. The Gwaii Trust welcomes Sk’aal Ts’iid ATTENTION: Haida Nation Election James Cowpar as Chairperson of the Gwaii Trust Board of Directors. Mr Cowpar will be December 12 taking up the position in April 2016. The nation is preparing to elect it’s executive and representatives for the next three years. Nominations were opened October 26 and closed November 5. Four candidates were nominated for President and two for Vice-president. In Vancouver and Prince Rupert, three are vying for two seats each. In Old Massett nine are competing for four seats and in Skidegate seven are up for four seats. An advance poll will be held on December 5 with the election following on December 12. ‘Like’ Council of the Haida Nation on Facebook!

3 Haida Laas - Newsletter of the Council of the Haida Nation Photo: Farah Nosh

Gaaw Xaad Kil: Sgadaang HlGaagilda Xaayda Kil: Sgaada.nga English: Black Oyster Catcher Latin: Haematopus bachmani

Although there are over a dozen species of oystercatcher world-wide, sgadaang is the only member of its genus represented in the range covering the Aleutian Islands to Baja California. Mariners often spot their distinctive red beaks and long, bright legs, which Tllgaay guu Glaay.yii never carry them far from the rocky shoreline where they forage for taaxaw Peace on Earth mussels, skats’aguu limpets, t’aa chitons, An experienced eye and well-travelled feet the Middle East. Cultural devastation takes gawduuwal barnacles, ts’aa’am crabs recently returned to Haida Gwaii. Farah generations to heal. Today, post-war is and kunt'axung sand fleas. Nosh, an Iraqi-Canadian war correspondent, a nation full of post-traumatic stress. As the Although healthy, the sgaada. came home once again to calmer shores years progressed photographing the conflict nga population is surprisingly small, where she seeks solace from the extreme and loss in the Middle East, I wondered about numbering between 8,500 and 11,000. violence she has documented in conflict the recovery and healing of nations. This Sgadaang are loyal mates and zones around the world. transformed into a passion around Haida sometimes remain in pairs for much The award-winning photographer spoke Gwaii’s colonial legacy of language loss, and of their 15-year lifespan. Together the at Xaayda Sahlinda Naay the Haida Gwaii those that fight to revive it.” couples defend their territory where Museum at the opening of her exhibit, Iraq Experience of, and recovery from, tragedy they dig small bowl-like nests which are to Haida Gwaii on September 25. The new is a familiar theme in Ms Nosh’s travels. lined with shells and pebbles. The two exhibit portrays the striking contrast between “After each journey to the middle east, to three gray, speckled eggs can survive Ms Nosh’s worlds: everyday life inside a I would return to Haida Gwaii, trading the occasional submersion in the cold war-zone and everyday life in the Haida violence of Baghdad for the relative calm of waters of Tang.gwan the Pacific Ocean language community. Tlell in pursuit of a spirit balance,” Ms Nosh during their 28-day incubation period. Initially, her tragic images of war from continued. “My two passions, the Middle the Middle East appear to have nothing in East and Haida Gwaii, were at opposing common with the accompanying peaceful spectrums in war and peace. […] This Sgaad guuga pictures of Haida language learning. exhibition is my personal reflection on the Solomon Wilson said this However, Ms Nosh points out that the two experience of war, its subsequent traumas, expression is used when scenes are not so disparate. In both, the legacy and the path to regain solace.” sgaada.nga are noisy of colonization is palpable. Just as the Middle Ms Nosh’s images from conflict zones in before it rains. East struggles with foreign and internal strife, Iraq, Afghanistan, , , , the Haida language strives to flourish in spite the West bank, Gaza, and Egypt have been of historical traumas. featured on CNN and in TIME, Newsweek “Haida society was transformed through and the New York Times. The exhibit runs its colonial past,” Ms Nosh explained. “I until January 6. contemplated loss through the historic conflict of these Islands as I documented it in

4 December 2015

2015 Annual House of Assembly THE NATION’S BUSINESS As a busy summer of harvesting berries Haida Title the Sea Treaty – an international agreement defining the rights and responsibilities of and fish came to a close, Haida citizens In light of persistent frustrations with the gathered at Naagudgiikyaagangs the nations – asserting that the oceans around reconciliation process, the House of Assembly Haida Gwaii were part of Haida territory and Skidegate Community Hall in HlGaagilda urged CHN to move forward with the Haida October 20-23 and 30. The assembly came not that of . The HLC even outlined title case, passing Resolution 2015-11 on plans to protect the Islands from potential together to review the work that the Coun- Friday, October 23. In it, the HoA resolved cil of the Haida Nation completed over the marine pollution spills, years before the to “begin in-depth discussions to prepare a Exxon Valdez disaster of 1989. last year and to debate 29 resolutions, strategy to move the Haida title case forward passing 16 of them. to the next stage ”. Herring Since CHN’s formation in 1974 it has The work of going through boxes of Hakw’anaan accumulated an enormous collection of documents is part of the extensive preparation required to win a court case, (Don’t hesitate or waste time discussing evidence in support of title. Throughout 2015 and such research paid off this spring when something to much) legal counsel has been strengthening the case with evidence found in Canadian archives, CHN successfully protected herring from In June, the Council of the Haida Nation including Indian Affairs. A thorough review over-fishing. met again with Canada to discuss the of Indian Affairs material uncovered many On March 6, 2015 the BC Court of Appeal reconciliation of Haida and Crown title. treasures including documents confirming agreed with CHN’s position that opening the Over the last few years of talks, Canada has that Haida Gwaii had a population of at least fishery would cause herring stocks irreparable sent representatives to the table but with 30,000 prior to 1864. harm. Furthermore the court concluded that no mandate to negotiate. This, in addition With the Tsilhqot’in decision of June 2014 DFO had mismanaged the herring fishery and to Canada’s reluctance to affirm and fulfill in mind the CHN has amended it’s title case that given the strength of the Haida title case, the commitments it has already made in pleadings originally submitted in 2002. The the agreements with other governments, such the Gwaii Haanas Marine and the SGaan new pleadings will be filed with the court in as the Gwaii Haanas Agreement, the Crown has higher duty to consult and accommodate Kinghlas/ Agreements, has the near future. raised questions in Gaaw and HlGaagilda the nation. about Canada’s commitment to a process Some Unique Discoveries "The Haida nation has planned for various of reconciliation. As legal counsel explores Council of the scenarios and is prepared to protect herring The CHN hoped to address the issue this Haida Nations’s archives they’ve come across stocks this year,” said President of the summer, but the parties were unable to agree some interesting material. Haida Nation kil tlaats ’gaa Peter Lantin. on a framework by which to negotiate. Since The finds include documents SkilayErnie “Our citizens have told us they are ready to then, letters have been exchanged ‘with Collison compiled in the early 1970s when safeguard our territory and our way of life. prejudice’ outlining each parties’ position. leaders established a Haida Lands Committee. We are working with our allies, the Heiltsuk Labeling correspondence ‘with prejudice’ In correspondence from that time, Canada and Nuu-Chah-Nulth nations, and we will means that the contents can be used as said it took Haida title very seriously and defend the herring stocks so that they can evidence in court; labeling letters ‘without promised to expedite the process and address recover and provide sustenance for everyone prejudice’ means that their contents cannot be the issue as soon as possible. in perpetuity." used as evidence. Up to now, correspondence Other material shows that the Haida Lands As the 2015/16 herring season with Canada has been ‘without prejudice’. Committee formally rejected the Law of approaches the CHN anticipates that despite First Nations’ opposition and “When British Columbia was organized as a province, scientific reason, Canada will seek to open the British Columbia government knew all about [ab- the fishery again. The HoA directed CHN to keep the herring fishery closed in Haida original title], talked about it, discussed the whole thing, Gwaii until management and conservation but because it was a disagreeable sort of thing, it was issues are addressed. dropped. […] It was ignored, as you honourable gentle- men know. That thing has not been righted to this day.” HoA continued on page 6 Rev Peter R Kelly, Chair of the Allied Indian Tribes of British Columbia, presenting to the special joint committee, Ottawa, 1927

5 Haida Laas - Newsletter of the Council of the Haida Nation

HoA from page 5 towboats and tugboats account for 40 percent increase the distance of vessels transiting of all traffic, followed by carrier vessels at 26 offshore from 25 to 50 or 100 nautical miles, Enbridge percent. Passenger-related traffic (cruise ships the stationing of heavy-weather rescue tugs in As the nation strives to protect its territory and ferries) account for 18 percent, fishing the north and on Haida Gwaii, maintaining a from over-fishing, it also continues to fight vessels larger than 24 metres and not actively west-coast coordination centre and locations the risks of oil spills and noise pollution by fishing account for 15 percent, and oil tankers where endangered vessels can take refuge opposing tanker traffic through its waters. account for one percent of all traffic when emergencies occur. At the Federal Court of Appeal in The Simushir Incident of Oct 17, 2014 With these recommendations in mind Vancouver on October 6, CHN presented revealed how vulnerable Haida Gwaii is to the HoA directed CHN to examine the its case to overturn the Joint Review Panel’s marine traffic today and the possibility of a establishment of “an emergency response approval of Enbridge’s proposed Northern wreck with resulting pollution. The Russian system to respond to any marine disaster in Gateway Pipeline. In presenting its argument cargo vessel Simushir lost power and drifted the waters of Haida Gwaii”. the nation worked with eight other First within 5.6 nautical miles of Daawxuusda Haida Heritage Site Planning Nations, the labour union Unifor, and non- the west coast of Haida Gwaii. The vessel contained 654 metric tonnes of pollutants. Marine spills are of deep concern, as just one governmental organizations. accident could destroy not only the marine Daawxuusda features some very rough The nation’s argument showed that environment, but also many coastal cultural and rocky coastal terrain. With these hazards Canada’s consultation process was sites. The Strategic Land Use Agreement defective, disregarding and undermining and Haida Gwaii Land Use Plan identified 25 years of reconciliation protocols and VESSEL TRANSITS eleven areas as Haida Heritage Sites in 2009. agreements. After some confusion on the (The approximate number of carrier and cargo This year the Heritage and Natural Resource part of the court regarding the extent of its transits in Haida waters each year.) Program’s Cultural Feature Identification own power, the court determined that it Program will be heading out into the far does have the authority to change Canada’s - 550 reaches of Haida Gwaii to map and collect approval of the proposed pipeline. Now Nothern Hecate Strait - 350 more detailed information about cultural the court must determine how defective the West Coast of Haida Gwaii - 725 plants, monumental cedar, heritage features, consultation process has to be to overturn the and culturally modified trees. government’s decision. Over the next few years the program will come waves reaching over 25 metres and The Northern Gateway Pipeline have a steady funding base thanks to the winds recorded at 118 kilometres per hour. proposal faces widespread opposition from Atmospheric Benefits Agreement and will Following the Simushir near miss, the environmental groups, farmers, communities enable the establishment of a good footing to CHN joined federal, provincial, municipal and First Nations along its route. Since the build and design a management system for and regional government representatives, Liberal party won a majority parliament the heritage sites. independent consultants, and experienced on October 19, the project is facing further Cabin Completed uncertainty. This seems evident, as on Friday, west-coast mariners to consider all the factors November 13, the Prime Minister’s Office of a worst case scenario in a workshop. Gwaii Haanas announced that a local directed Transport Minister, Marc Garneau, After two days of intense discussion construction crew has completed the new to institute a moratorium on crude oil tanker and analysis, participants brought forward Watchmen cabin at SGang Gwaay. In traffic for the North Coast. recommendations that emphasized prevention addition to the building, the crew also built strategies. The recommendations included: a new storage shed and helicopter pad. BC Looking at the traffic now Air Ambulance has already made use of Within the planning area called the Pacific the helicopter pad, proving its value as a North Coast Integrated Management Area safety upgrade. (PNCIMA), an area which covers about The cabin replaces the original built by a 102,000 km2 of the coastal environment, crew led by Captain Gold, over 30 years ago.

6 December 2015

“This cabin served Watchmen, visitors and Gwaii Haanas staff well over the years, but it came time to provide the Watchmen a new summer home,” acknowledged Gwaii Haanas Cultural Resource Management Advisor Camille Collinson. “Come Spring we’ hold a blessing ceremony for the new building.” On the Line for Education As history has shown, Heritage Sites can be vulnerable to damage and trespass from logging. Recent logging around Gawu Kuns Siiwaay Mosquito Lake roused the HoA’s concern with the threat of a proposed cut in an area around the Mount Moresby Adventure Camp. To preserve this culturally significant area the HoA resolved to create buffers Interlocking progressive change around Gawu Kuns Siiwaay and to designate by Graham Richard the watershed as an ‘area of importance’, The right to a healthy environment is volunteers across the country have recruited protecting the area for use as a forest constitutionally protected in more than 110 85,568 Canadians to take part in the Blue Dot classroom for educational purposes and of the world’s 196 officially recognized Movement. This movement has helped 89 food harvesting. The initiative to protect the countries. In his recently published book, municipalities pass declarations recognizing watershed has received letters of support from The Optimistic Environmentalist, lawyer that fresh air, clean water, and healthy food groups who use the area and CHN expects David Boyd found that enshrining the are human rights. Among them are Gaaw the issue to resolve to the satisfaction of the right to a healthy environment in a nation’s Masset and Daajing Giids Queen Charlotte. Islands’ communities. constitution resulted in better environmental The movement is gaining momentum Yaagun Yakoun Lake also garnered laws, stronger enforcement, and higher across the country with Manitoba and BC attention. The Haida Gwaii Land Use accountability of the sitting government. leading the way. This year the Union of BC plan recognizes and protects the lake and And, as a result, citizens of such countries Municipalities resolved to ask the Province of watershed as a Haida Heritage Site. Even enjoy tangible benefits like better air quality, BC to create its own provincial environmental so, a company is logging land adjacent to safer drinking water, less exposure to toxic bill of rights. On October 16 Manitoba beat the lake that is designated ‘private’ under chemicals, the recovery of endangered the union to the punch by signing the Blue provincial law. The HoA resolved that CHN species and greener cities. Dot Declaration. talk with BC and private landholders to Of the 193 United Nation member-nations, Once seven out of Canada’s ten provinces, address the issue of logging on ‘private’ land only 16 nations have not recognized the representing over 50% of Canada’s on Haida Gwaii. right to a clean environment through their population have implemented their own bills, Of Slate and Mushrooms constitution, legislation, a court decision, they can then turn there attention to amending The discussion about protecting harvesting or an international agreement. At this time, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms areas also extended to pickers themselves. Canada is a member of this dwindling at the national level. This season several incidents occurred where minority, presumably to keep North Korea, “There’s a track record over the past 50 mushroom-buyers excluded local pickers Afghanistan, and Cambodia company. years of surprising environmental progress from selling their harvest. To ensure that However, Mr Boyd says that Canadians which should give people hope,” Mr Boyd local pickers have a place in the business, should feel hopeful. explained in an interview with CBC’s Anna the HoA resolved to approach communities “The constitution [of a nation] is the Maria Tremonti. “There’s also the fact that about establishing a permit system. highest in supreme law. And there’s actually we’re on the cusp of a series of interlock[ing] CHN will also approach hereditary a huge grassroots movement in Canada to try revolutions. Revolutions in the way we leaders and the Skidegate Band Council to achieve the same [constitutional changes generate electricity, in urban development, in about a permitting system for access to ] here,” Mr Boyd explained in an interview construction, in transportation, and I would Tllgadaaw K’yuu Slatechuck Trail. The with Haida Laas. argue the very nature of the global economy HoA recognized that k’aas hlgaa argillite is He pointed to an Angus-Reid poll showing are all at various – in some cases early stages a limited resource which may benefit from that nine out of 10 Canadians would like to – in the process of transformation.” a permitting program similar to the long see similar constitutional amendments come established cultural wood program. to Canada. To achieve this vision, 14,000

7 Haida Laas - Newsletter of the Council of the Haida Nation

Gaaw Xaad Kil language class hard at work. L-R: Skilaa Lawrence Bell, Waahlahl Kanaas Louise Almquist and Xuhlyaang Rev Lily Bell. Thinking in Haida With just a slip of the tongue Following up on the three-and-a-half-month Intermediate Level Grammatical Structures This unique descriptiveness is part of intensive Gaaw Xaad Kil Bootcamp held of Xaad Kil”, further explores Haida verbs, what makes Xaad Kil so thrilling. Xaad in Spring 2015, a dozen intermediate Gaaw pronouns, phonics and shape classifiers Kil is highly ‘directional’, the language Xaad Kil Northern Haida dialect students The class is studying Gawa Sgalaangaa: is constantly creating a picture of motion are back at it. They are now taking part Massett Songs, a collection of songs and and place. This is done with a dozen or so, in a twelve-session course led by fluent stories recorded by anthropologist John R directional particles or suffixes like hlaaup , speaker Hlgawangdlii Skilaa Lawrence Bell Swanton and translated by John Enrico. sah upstream, t’a downstream, k’aad out to and Simon Fraser University linguistics Leaning heavily on Hlgawangdlii Skilaa’s sea and dii into the woods. professor Gulkiihlgad Dr Marianne Ignace fluency, the class examines a story line- “These are the really fascinating parts from Oct 1 to Nov 28. Those enrolled have by-line, breaking apart each sentence to of the language that give you how land is a basic understanding of Haida phonetics, understand it’s meaning, and practice conceptualized,” Gulkiihlgad said. Rather orthography, grammar, sentence building, pronunciation. One story they are studying than relying on map coordinates, addresses and a vocabulary of 1,000 or more words. discusses how the son of Xaaw North Wind or street names for orientation, Xaad Kil This course, officially called “FNLG 335-3 went to marry Sgadaang Oyster catcher, the prioritizes things like wind-direction, water- daughter of Xiw South East Wind. The story currents and ones own relative location to creates detailed portraits of Haida Gwaii’s the ocean. winds, ancient landscape, social-customs Xaad Kil is also oriented around and places. ‘shape’ and uses a large set of tools called ‘shape’ classifiers that are absent in the Xaad kil Fig. 1 . To provide an example, ‘L naas k’ ádguu nang tajaa hlgyuusdáayaan. Sgaawangdlii Skilaa explains how using ‘hlgyuu’ before a word implies that an object Literal English is wide and broad. He provides an example in His house seaward-facing-side there-was sand broad-and-wide-walkway. the sentence. (see Fig. 1)

8 December 2015

“It means it was a natural setting,” Sgaawangdlii Skilaa clarified. “Like the tide went out and there it was. It wasn’t planned that way but that’s how nature created it to be, so it was used as such. ‘Hlgyuusdáayaan’implies it was wide and broad. It’s not just a skinny, narrow way.” It is easy to see how efficientlyX aad Kil conveys ideas that are lengthy to explain in English. Together, the ‘directional’ particles and ‘shape’ classifiers enable speakers to describe ideas in highly concentrated forms. The story of the marriage of Xaaw’s son to Sgadaang also offers a glimpse of Haida family structure. In particular, it describes how a husband would normally have to move into his wife’s house to live with his in-laws. This custom is part of the matrilineal structure HlGaaglida Xaayda Kil class enjoying games they created. L-R: Jaad Xaay.ya Fallon Crosby, Daall Jaad Melody Gravelle of Haida society. As many students know, it is (back), Haahlginganguu Joan Moody, Sing.giduu Laura Jormanainen and Guud Xang.ngi Melinda Pick. easy to make humourous mistakes as you are learning. The word for father-in-law, Kunaa, Thinking in Haida can easily be mispronounced as Kuunang, meaning foolish or crazy. “Ya! You shouldn’t put those two words too close together,” Dii gwii kaahl! I win! Gulkiihlgad exclaimed. Laughter echoes through Stlaay Daw Naay harvest-time in Haida, and then used small By taking this course, Gatgus Erica Welcoming House at the Heritage Centre at metal tweezers to retrieve tokens from Stocker, Kilthguulans Christian White, Jaalen Kay Llnagaay. Amid the shouts and giggles below an electrified panel! After competitors Edenshaw, K’aayhltla Xuhl Rhonda Bell, Guulang Xuhlwaay Leona Clow, Xuhlyaang are the sounds of a recovering language, scrambled to remember the Haida words, Rev Lily Bell, Xyaahl Gulaa's Colleen punctuated with wide smiles. This is what a tense silence would fall as they carefully Williams, Guudee Naan Marilyn Collison, fifteen HlGaagilda Xaayda Kil Southern tried to wield the tiny tweezers to fetch the Waahlahl Kanaas Louise Almquist, Lucy Bell Haida Dialect students taking a course called tokens. If the tweezers touched the panel, an and Candace Weir-White, are earning credits ‘FNST 231’ sound like. From September alarm sounded and all their work had been for from Simon Fraser University’s Department 23 to October 24, teacher and fluent speaker nothing, sending the room into laughter. of Linguistics. Gwaaganad Diane Brown led the students “It’s really just a home-made version of through nine sessions. Operation,” explained creator Jaad Tlaaw “The school district says we need a speaker Paula Varnel. “It’s super-easy to make, I had with a teaching degree,” language learner no idea! I love this little doodad so much. I LOST IN TRANSLATION Gidin Jaad Erica Ryan-Gagne explained might like to make a bigger one.” Xaad Kil at the Haida Nation’s annual House of Xayna Jaad Kristy Alsop presented the Sahgwii ltl kaaydaang. Assembly. “So I’m doing it along with game of Xaayda Kil Ginhlgahl Haida fourteen other women! If I have to go back Language Mix-Up, a modified version of Literal English to school at thirty and spend five-and-a-half Scrabble. It featured nineteen more tiles than Upstream-direction I’m going. years towards a teaching degree, then that’s the regular game and the extra tiles are unique what I have to do for my children.” Xaayda Kil sounds like k’, k, g, x, hl, and tll. Colloquial English The Skidegate Band Council’s And, because Xaayda Kil is more difficult to I’m going up town. Comprehensive Community Plan and the spell for beginners, each player gets to use Haida Language Revitalization Plan inspired nine tiles instead of seven. Explanation this University of Northern BC credited Sing.giduu Laura Jormanainen presented To get to downtown from Gaaw, you program. The students love to have fun as a version of Go Fish! called Xaawin! with must travel upstream along Gaaw they learn and in class they presented games special cards. When someone played the Kaahlii Massett Inlet. “That’s why we they had created to help them practice their Aaway.ya card, they could make another say uptown and not downtown like city speaking skills. competitor xyaahl dance. The player holding people,” explained Rev Lily Bell. In the game of Halxa! Harvest, players raced each other to name a food and its I win continued on page 10

9 Haida Laas - Newsletter of the Council of the Haida Nation

I win from page 9

“We have fourteen dedicated women [learning] the language to get the degree. We have pre- schools. We have daycares. We have a language nest. We all believe in the language, you all believe in the language. [ ... ]” - Gidin Jaad Erica Ryan-Gagne at the House of Assembly 2015.

the K’uugaad liar card could lie to players you how great you all are. I want to remind Xaay.ya Fallon Crosby, Kuunaa Jaad Jenny about their cards before discarding it. When you that when you love something, it heals Cross, K’una Jaad Patti Gayle Gladstone, someone played the Haksda! lets go card, you. It is necessary for you all to be proud. Jaad Haana Alix Goetzinger, Daall Jaad they could force another player to take a turn. You all work very hard. It’s a good feeling. Melody Gravelle, Haahlginganguu Joan Students found themselves so taken up Everything about it for me is wonderful. I Moody, Guud Xang.ngi Melinda Pick, St’aay with the competition that games were allowed never even thought I’d teach again, and here Taw.waay Carla Russ, Gaajiiaawa Linda to go on for extra rounds. I am!” Tollas, Siina Cindy Williams, and Jennifer “It’s been a very inspiring afternoon!” Students who completed the course Dysart. Kihlguula Gaay.ya Severn Suzuki was concluded Gwaaganad after a lot of practice, included Jaad Tlaaw, Xayna Jaad, Sing.giduu, teaching assistant. learning, and laughter. “I wanted to remind Gidin Jaad, Gaagwiis Jason Alsop, Jaad LEFT IN THE DUST This year Brooklyn, New York The money will be put toward resident and Reuters’ journalist George M Dawson Secondary School’s Chris Taylor ran 26.2 miles to raise annual language bursary, production thousands of dollars for Haida and distribution of a Haida dictionary, language. His 49 supporters pledged and language boot camps at Xaad $2,754 to the marathoner’s Indie Kihlga Suu.u. Go Go campaign, leaving his goal of This is Mr Taylor’s second $1,000 in the dust. Mr Taylor made contribution to language efforts. In the run on October 18 at the Toronto November 2013 he raised $2,277 Waterfront Marathon. by running the Brooklyn Marathon. “I'm running not for myself, but These funds helped Haida language to help save a language,” Mr Taylor workers to publish and distribute free declared on his webpage. “The Haida-language children's books to language warriors of Haida Gwaii elementary schools. have been fighting valiantly for decades to preserve their language for future generations.”

10 December 2015

of the area. In 2011 she was invited to participate on the SGaan Kinghlas MPA advisory committee, a multi- stakeholder group that provides advice to the Management Board regarding planning and management of the MPA. So when a research opportunity came up to study noise generated by marine traffic, Dr. Canessa suggested GS aan Kinghlas as a valuable case study. The Salish Sea and Sachs Harbor area in the Northwest Territories were also selected for the multi-year ocean noise research project. The goal of the project is simple: This spectogram visually shows the sound of a vessel approaching and gradually moving away from the hydrophone installed at SGaan Kinghlas. Acoustic data courtesy of John Ford, DFO. Image courtesy of JASCO Applied Sciences. “Ultimately, we want to know how much noise is being generated from [human] sources and then what species are there that could be susceptible to impact from that Can you feel the noise? noise,” said Dr. Canessa. by Molly Clarkson The research, however, is anything but simple. Dr. Canessa, assisted by Casey SGaan Kinghlas Supernatural Being diving patterns, and the abandonment of Hilliard of Dalhousie University and UVIC Looking Outwards is an enormous seamount important habitat. They can also be acoustic, PhD candidate Ainsley Allen, have been located 180-kilometres off the west coast of like a reduced ability to forage or locate busy over the past year analyzing Automatic Haida Gwaii. The 3100-metre mountain is mates, and physiological, such as diminished Identification System (AIS) vessel traffic data submerged beneath the waves of the Pacific or loss of hearing and high stress. Fish and and noise in and around the MPA. Results so Ocean and supports an abundance of marine invertebrates can also be negatively affected far suggest that there is a significant amount life. Rockfish, sablefish, crab, sea anemones, by ocean noise. of activity, mostly from fishing, cargo and squid, octopi, sponges, corals and sea stars Marine traffic is the most significant tanker vessels. thrive at SGaan Kinghlas, which in turn source of human generated noise in the They found that the majority of tankers attract large marine mammals such as Stellar oceans surrounding SGaan Kinghlas. The travel to the west and beyond SGaan Sea lions, orca, humpback and Sperm whales. MPA is located along the route of oil tankers Kinghlas’ boundaries, in 2012 four tankers The Haida nation designated SGaan carrying oil from Prudhoe Bay and Valdez, transited through the MPA. Cargo vessels Kinghlas as a Haida Marine Protected Area , southwards to ports in the United tend to travel to the east of the boundary, in 1997 and in 2008 the Nation and Canada States. A Tanker Exclusion Zone off Canada’s while fishing vessels track back and forth LEFT IN THE DUST jointly designated SGaan Kinghlas Canada’s west coast was established in 1988 in order across the MPA. seventh Marine Protected Area (MPA). The to provide some protection to sensitive While the data shows more vessels seamount is the first MPA in Canada to be co- coastal ecosystems in the event of an oil or transit near or within the MPA in the winter managed by two governments. Currently, the hazardous cargo spill. However, the summit than in the summer months, the research Management Board for the MPA – consisting of the seamount is located between 18-36 team’s early findings suggest that the of two representatives from the Haida Nation kilometres west of the Tanker Exclusion Zone amount of noise is much higher during the and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and tankers continue to transit nearby waters. summer months, when good weather and – is developing a plan for the management Marine traffic in the area is also expected calm seas reduce the amount of natural of the MPA. New research into ocean noise to increase due to longer ice-free arctic noise in the ocean. is providing information that will help the navigation routes and planned port expansion Board protect the beings that live around the along the west coast. The implication of these findings will be the next of the team’s research. The seamount and manage human behaviour. In order to evaluate the potential ecological project is expected to wrap up in March Research has shown that ocean noise impacts posed by marine traffic the Board is 2017, at which point Dr. Canessa will be can negatively impact marine animals, working with digital mapping expert Rosaline working with the MPA Management Board particularly marine mammals like whales, Canessa, director of the Coastal and Ocean to apply her research to management and which depend on sound for communication, Resources Analysis Lab (CORAL) at the monitoring practices. foraging and navigation. These impacts can University of Victoria. Dr. Canessa’s interest be behavioural, such as a temporary halt to in the seamount dates back to 2003, when singing, changes in surfacing, heading and she contributed to an ecosystem overview

11 Haida Laas - Newsletter of the Council of the Haida Nation

A Huge Haawa from Haida Laas Haawa to the following individuals, businesses and organizations for carrying and distributing throughout 2015.

Haawa to the fluent speakers and forward to working with you over the HLGAAGILDA Skidegate – Jags students of Gaaw Xaad Kil and Hl- coming years. Beanstalk keeps the jitterati fueled with coffee and news, Gwaii Co-op always Gaagilda Xaayda Kil, including those GAAW Old Massett – To our Haida provides us with a place at their tills, the teaching and learning at Xaad Kihlga owned and operated partners in Gaaw Haida Heritage Centre at Kay Llnagaay Suu.u and HlGaagilda Xaayda Kil Naay. we thank the Haida Rose, Samuels Store “inspires Understanding and Respect for and Sherri’s Gas Bar & Grill for always Because of you we have been able to All That Haida Gwaii is” as we reach out making Haida Laas available to visitors include more and more Haida language to museum visitors, and our partners at and to anyone who’s looking for news and in each issue. Haawa! Special thanks to Gwaii Haanas ensure that adventurers get food – a perfect combination. Jaas Kwaan Amanda Bedard. a look at the inside scoop. MASSET – Since 2000, the KXEEN Prince Rupert – Haawa to our DAAJING GIIDS Queen Charlotte Communications Program has faced very own CHN reps Pansy Collison and – The Visitor Information Centre starts difficulty in keeping the shelves of Bill White for keeping Haida citizens in everyone’s trip right with a look at current Delmas Co-op and Atwells adequately the loop by distributing each edition. And news, at Queen B’s our readers can relax stocked with copies. No challenge keeps for spreading the news into the heart of with a copy and a coffee, the Vancouver us happier, haaw’a for your years of Rupert, a big haawa to Eddie’s News. Island Regional Library helps us to inspire partnership. Haaw’a also to Green Gaia and inform its patrons, and Funk It is T’AGWAN Vancouver – Haawa to our and The Ground, who not only carry always happy to help with distribution. new distributor the Bill Reid Gallery Haida Laas, but keep us caffeinated on for joining our network and helping us our busy distribution route. K’IL LLNAGAAY Sandspit – A big to reach a wider audience. Our team GAMADIIS Port Clements – Haaw’a Haawa to SuperValu, the Vancouver also remains grateful to our long-time to Bayview for sticking with us for many Island Regional Library, the Sandspit distributors, The Intrepid Lois Rullin, years, to the Vancouver Island Regional Community Office, and the Visitor the Indian Society of Vancouver and Library for posting our issues front and Information Centre for bringing Haida CHN reps Shawn Edenshaw and Allan center, and to Gas Plus for keeping Haida Laas to the community and to the world Davidson. Laas on the shelf and keeping us fueled as visitors arrive and depart from the Islands. ALASKA & USA – Haawa for keeping on our travels north. Haida citizens connected. Carrie Sykes TLL.AAL Tlell – Thanks to the Crow’s And, a very special thanks to the HAIDA has been distributing from early days Nest staff, who are often the first to grab GWAII TRADER for carrying Haida along with the Hydaburg Cooperative a copy from the pile, and to the Haida Laas content and helping us reach an Association and the Organized Village House for providing their guests with the Islands-wide audience engaged and of Kasaan. Thanks to newcomers the scoop on what’s really going on around interested in “all things Haida Gwaii”. Alaska State Library and the Institute of Haida Gwaii. American Indian Arts in Santa Fe. We are grateful for your contributions and look

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