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This stunning 50,000 square feet Centre houses the Haida Gwaii Museum, Performance House, Carving Shed, Canoe House, Bill Reid Teaching Centre, two multipurpose classrooms, a spacious Welcome House area, and the Ḵay Bistro. Some of the organizations located within the Haida Heritage Centre include Haida Gwaii Institute, Haida Style Expeditions, Coast Guard, Trailmark, Haida Gwaii Restorative Justice, and the Haida Gwaii Watchmen program.
Designed to resemble the traditional oceanside Haida village that once stood in its place, the look and feel is one of the past; viewed from the water on a misty morning, an onlooker may indeed pause to wonder.
This large open walled space is designed to accommodate large projects being brought to life by talented local artists. Monumental poles and Canoes have been constructed and formed here.
Recently the Skidegate Band Council commissioned 3 Canoes which were carved here and were the first ones formed in over 20 years since the late Bill Reid carved the LooTaas at the carving shed on First Beach. Skin on frame kayaks have come to life to launch at Second beach.
Outdoor markets and musical performances all take place in this space, overlooking the curved pebbled shoreline of second beach
With a rolling door facing the shore, the Canoe House is home to a 50’ Haida war canoe, the LooTaas – Wave Eater. Carved by the late Bill Reid, she was well travelled before coming to rest back on Haida Gwaii where the log from which she is carved was felled and a team of carvers and canoe builders researched and worked to learn the techniques of canoe building which hadn’t been practiced in almost a century.
The LooTaas represents more than an outstanding example of craftsmanship and art, she is the reviving of a culture, she is the reemergence of practices almost lost, she is at the center of the life and livelihood of a seafaring people
On display guests can gain an insight into the gathering, preparation, and preservation of traditional foods. Within Haida culture common phrases that exemplify the relationship between the land, sea and people can be heard, ‘when the tide is low the table is set’, is one such phrase, ‘our food is our medicine,’ is another. Central to the culture is this relationship.
The kitchen is used to prepare traditional meals and offerings for special events and to teach traditional food preparation to the younger generations. With changing times and landscapes food security has become increasingly important part of this is transferring the knowledge through the generations so these traditional methods are not lost.
In addition, the Ga Taa Naay offers light snacks and refreshments to visiting guests.
*Our kitchen is currently under renovations
The Haida Heritage Centre is a not-for-profit cultural organization. All sales support the organization and its objectives. In developing our merchandise, we work with Haida artists. We believe that artists should retain the rights to their works, and as such we lease the art for a fixed period. The artists earn a leasing fee as well as a royalty for all items sold.
To build on the idea of supporting local, we developed a local social goods program. We lease the art and pay a royalty to the artist, as well as associating the designs with various local objectives and organizations. You will find that most of our designs have a cause associated with them that is important to Haida Gwaii. We encourage you to read about these causes and why a particular design has been chosen to represent each cause.
Opened in 1976, The Haida Gwaii Museum continues to build an international reputation for its outstanding collection of Haida historical objects, contemporary art, archives, and natural history collection. Partnering with local organizations and museums from around the world, it creates a unique place for exploration and dialogue.
In the Haida Gwaii Museum visitors will discover sophisticated and incomparable works of Haida art, donated, gifted, and repatriated form institutions around the world. Monumental carved poles, delicately woven spruce root baskets, shamans’ staffs, dramatic masks, and elegant pieces of Haida jewelry in gold, silver, and argillite, are some of the treasures to be discovered here.
The Museum plays an important role in preserving, collecting, and presenting the rich and diverse collection of archeological artifacts, natural science, Haida knowledge and history, visual art, settler artifacts and an archive of rare documents, books, and photographs to help establish Haida Gwaii as a unique environment of the Pacific Northwest.
The Museum works closely with the Haida community to repatriate Haida human remains, and specific cultural objects held in museums around the world; to reconstruct the genealogies of the Haida clan system, and to mentor Haida members in arts and heritage related careers.
No visit to the Haida Heritage Centre and Haida Gwaii Museum is complete without a stop at the Haida Gwaii Museum Gift Shop.
With an ever changing display of local Haida artwork, guests will get lost in authentic Haida culture as they peruse the gift shop’s diverse selection of original, authentic Haida artwork. Featuring exquisitely carved silver jewellery, argillite, masks and traditional weaving, prints and original paintings, as well as an extensive collection of books on topics ranging from Haida history and culture, to personal stories and encounters.
Whether it’s to commemorate your visit to Haida Gwaii or to purchase a unique gift for someone else, a visit to the Haida Gwaii Museum gift shop is a must for everyone.
Opened in 1976, The Haida Gwaii Museum continues to build an international reputation for its outstanding collection of Haida historical objects, contemporary art, archives, and natural history collection. Partnering with local organizations and museums from around the world, it creates a unique place for exploration and dialogue.
In the Haida Gwaii Museum visitors will discover sophisticated and incomparable works of Haida art, donated, gifted, and repatriated form institutions around the world. Monumental carved poles, delicately woven spruce root baskets, shamans’ staffs, dramatic masks, and elegant pieces of Haida jewelry in gold, silver, and argillite, are some of the treasures to be discovered here.
The Museum plays an important role in preserving, collecting, and presenting the rich and diverse collection of archeological artifacts, natural science, Haida knowledge and history, visual art, settler artifacts and an archive of rare documents, books, and photographs to help establish Haida Gwaii as a unique environment of the Pacific Northwest.
The Museum works closely with the Haida community to repatriate Haida human remains, and specific cultural objects held in museums around the world; to reconstruct the genealogies of the Haida clan system, and to mentor Haida members in arts and heritage related careers.
No visit to the Haida Heritage Centre and Haida Gwaii Museum is complete without a stop at the Haida Gwaii Museum Gift Shop.
With an ever changing display of local Haida artwork, guests will get lost in authentic Haida culture as they peruse the gift shop’s diverse selection of original, authentic Haida artwork. Featuring exquisitely carved silver jewellery, argillite, masks and traditional weaving, prints and original paintings, as well as an extensive collection of books on topics ranging from Haida history and culture, to personal stories and encounters.
Whether it’s to commemorate your visit to Haida Gwaii or to purchase a unique gift for someone else, a visit to the Haida Gwaii Museum gift shop is a must for everyone.
