Colonial police action against the people of Haida Gwaii facts for kids
The Haida people of Haida Gwaii have a long history of defending their lands and waters. For many years, starting in the 18th century, they had conflicts with European and American ships that entered their territory without permission. These ships were often looking to trade or explore.
Later, around the 1900s, Canadian settlers began to arrive on the Haida Gwaii islands. This led to more challenges for the Haida people. Sadly, diseases like smallpox, brought by Europeans, had a terrible impact. The Haida population, which was once in the tens of thousands, dropped to only 588 people by 1915. This made it much harder for the Haida to keep their traditions and protect their land from new claims by British and Canadian authorities.
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Understanding Haida Gwaii
What is Haida Gwaii?
Haida Gwaii is a group of over 100 islands. It is the main land area for the Haida Indigenous Peoples. Their traditional lands also reach north into what is now known as the Alaskan panhandle.
Who are the Cumshewa Haida?
Cumshewa was an important leader of the Haida people from Haida Gwaii. Today, Gitkinjuaas Ronald Wilson holds this important title. The name Cumshewa might mean "rich at the mouth of the river." Captain George Dixon traded with Cumshewa in 1787. In 1794, Cumshewa and his warriors took over the American ship Resolution. Many places on the map are named after Cumshewa, like Cumshewa Inlet and Cumshewa Island.
Who are the Kaigani Haida?
The Kaigani Haida live in the northern part of Haida territory. This area is now in Southeast Alaska, United States, on Prince of Wales Island. This region has always been part of the Haida Nation's lands.
Who are the Kunghit Haida?
The Kunghit Haida lived in the southern part of the Haida Gwaii islands. Their territory stretched from Lyell Island to the very southern tip of the archipelago. They had about two dozen main villages and many smaller seasonal camps where they gathered resources. The village of SG̱ang Gwaay llnagaay, now known as Ninstints, was a key place where Europeans first met and traded with the Haida. In 1787, Captain George Dixon visited and saw the Haida were eager to trade sea otter fur. While trade started peacefully, by 1789, relations became difficult.
Who are the Skidegate Haida?
Skidegate is a Haida community located on the southeast coast of Graham Island in Haida Gwaii. This island group is part of British Columbia, Canada.
Who are the Masset Haida?
According to Haida historian Henry Geddes, the name Massett was given after Haida leaders helped rescue and repair a Spanish ship. This happened before British ships arrived. In 1853, the British adopted the name Masset. Today, Massett is a mix of four older Haida communities.
Conflicts Between Haida and Foreign Ships
Here are some of the conflicts that happened between the Haida people and European or American ships. It's important to know that the first meetings between the Haida and Spanish ships were peaceful.
| Year | Ship | Nationality | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1861 | HMS Forward | British | Haida traders were near Fort Victoria when someone accused them of theft. The British ship HMS Forward chased them back to Haida Gwaii. In a fight on May 17, 1861, four Haida and one Englishman died. |
| 1853 | Virago | British | On July 20, the Kunghit Haida tried to take two of the ship's smaller boats with their crews. |
| 1853 | Vancouver | British | This ship got stuck near Rose Spit. The English crew destroyed it to prevent the Haida from taking it. |
| 1852 | Susan Sturgis | American | At Skidegate, Chief Edenshaw helped the ship by guiding it and translating. In Masset waters, a Haida person was killed, and the Masset Haida immediately took over the ship. Chief Albert E. Edenshaw helped calm things down. The ship's crew was released for a payment. The ship itself was taken and destroyed by the Masset authorities. |
| 1851 | Georgiana | American | This ship got stuck near Cumshewa Inlet. The Haida took the ship, but released the crew and passengers after receiving payment. |
| 1834 | Vancouver | British | This ship was stranded on Rose Spit and taken by Haida authorities on March 3. |
| 1821 | Hamilton | American | The ship fired into Skidegate village, killing at least three people. This happened after the Haida acted to stop the ship's crew from trespassing on shore. |
| 1815 | Constantin | Russian | The Haida tried to capture this ship at Kaigani. |
| 1806 | Vancouver | American | The Skidegate Haida tried to take this ship, but they were not successful. |
| 1806 | Lydia | American | Six Massett Haida people were held hostage until a ransom in furs was paid. The ship claimed they fired on the village because of actions by the Kaigani Haida far away a few days earlier. |
| 1802 | Hetty | American | The ship held Haida leaders hostage during trade. |
| 1801 | Globe | American | The captain was killed by the Skidegate Haida in October. |
| 1799 | Eliza | American | Scotseye, a Cumshewa chief, and his brother were given to the Kaigani for punishment under Haida law. |
| 1799 | Cheerful | British | A group from the ship went ashore without permission and was attacked by Haida authorities. Using daggers and muskets, the Haida killed the second officer and two crew members at Cumshewa. |
| 1798 | Alexander | American | Three American crew members were hurt, and ten Haida people were killed in a fight at Cumshewa. |
| 1796-7 | Sea Otter | British | The English captain and two crew members were killed at Cumshewa. |
| 1795 | Union | American | An attempt to capture the ship on July 1 led to the deaths of 50 to 70 Kunghit Haida people. |
| 1795-6 | Prince William Henry | British | A Kaigani chief was held for ransom. |
| 1795 | Phoenix | British | A group from the ship went ashore without permission and was attacked. One crew member was killed at Cumshewa. In response, the ship attacked the village, and the village fired back with cannons. |
| 1795 | Despatch | American | Chief Cumshewa was held by the ship in exchange for the only survivor from the Resolution in July. |
| 1794 | Ino | British | This might be the unknown British ship that lost its masts and was taken over, with its crew killed, while trying to find replacements. |
| 1794 | Resolution | American | Captured by the Cumshewa Haida. Only one survivor was kept as a slave. |
| 1787 | Eleanora | American | Captured by the Kunghit Haida near Houston Stewart Channel. Everyone on board was lost, except one person who was kept as a slave. |
| 1793 | Amelia | American | A crew member was killed by the Kunghit Haida. |
| 1791-2 | Hancock | American | On July 14, the ship killed four Northern Haida over a small issue. Another Haida was wounded at Langara Island. |
| 1791 | Columbia Rediviva | American | Three crew members were killed by the Kaigani Haida as revenge for an earlier incident. |
| 1791 | Lady Washington | American | An incident involving Captain Kendrick and Chief Xo'ya led to a fight where 40 Kunghit Haida were lost. |
| 1789 | Iphigenia Nubiana | American | Near Langara Island, the Haida tried to take the ship. |
| 1787-89 | Princess Royal | British | The Cumshewa Haida tried to capture the ship. The ship fired back. |
| 1787 | Queen Charlotte | British | After the Haida tried to get back some furs, the crew fired their weapons, but it seems no one was hit. |
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