Welcome to Haida Heritage Centre

Haida Heritage Centre at Kaay Llnagaay is an award-winning Aboriginal cultural tourism attraction located in Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands) on British Columbia's northwest coast.  It is a magnificent 53,000 square foot cedar multi-complex consisting of five contemporary monumental timber longhouses.  The Centre houses the expanded Haida Gwaii Museum, additional temporary exhibition space, two meeting rooms/classrooms, the Performing House, Canoe House, Bill Reid Teaching Centre, the Carving Shed, a gift shop and a small restaurant/cafe.

The Haida Heritage Centre opened to the public in July of 2007 for its "Soft Opening Preview Season".  The official Grand Opening Ceremony took place on Saturday, August 23rd, 2008.  See the What's New page of this website for more details on this and other events at the Centre.

The buildings at Kaay Llnagaay are referred to "houses" in Haida. In fact, the Haida word for House is "Naay" [pronounced "nigh"]:

Greeting House, also known as the Welcome House, is the main entrance to the Centre and includes the reception desk for visitors and adjacent gift shop.

Trading House (Gina Daawhlgahl Naay) - Gift Shop. The Gift Shop is open whenever the Centre is open to the public and features Haida art, jewellery, books and artwork and crafts by local artists.

Exhibits Gallery and Meeting Rooms/Classrooms are adjacent to the Trading House. The temporary Exhibits Gallery features works by contemporary artists, as well as traveling exhibitions and shows.

Eating House (Ga Taa Naay) - Our Haala Ga Taa restaurant/cafe is now open.  Traditional Haida meals as well as conventional family fare are available.   Box lunches and snacks can also be purchased.   Just a reminder that food and drinks are only permitted in the cafe or outside picnic areas. Smoking is also not permitted in the Centre.  

Performing House - This is adjacent to the Eating house and is part of the same building. This multi-purpose performance and special events space is designed as a traditional longhouse with an indoor amphitheatre configuration that is available for special performances, ceremonies, special events, seminars and lectures.

Bill Reid Teaching Centre and Canoe House - Also known as "Solitary Raven House" this is the display House for Bill Reid's famous war canoe, Loo Taas, "Wave Eater". This House also encompasses the Educational centre for Haida artisans.

Carving Shed - This large facility has an open design (no side walls) to accommodate large monumental cedar poles for our enterprising carvers.  Three new Haida canoes have been carved here and will be launched in the summer of 2008.

Administration: A glass-enclosed office link houses the Heritage Centre's administrative staff.

The office link connects to the offices of Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site (GHNPR HHS). Gwaii Haanas visitors go directly to the GHNPR HHS office adjacent to the main parking lot to check in, or receive instructions about your Gwaii Haanas Visitor Orientation.