Delkatla facts for kids
Delkatla is a small community in British Columbia, Canada. It is located on Graham Island, which is part of the Haida Gwaii islands. This community sits near the entrance of Masset Inlet.
What's in a Name?
The name Delkatla comes from the Haida language, which is called X̱aad Kíl. It is connected to a nearby water area, once known as Delkatla Inlet. This Haida word means "water flowing in and out" or "water drifting inside."
It describes a special kind of waterway, like a narrow channel, that goes inland. This channel extends from the villages of Ka-yung and New Masset. The grassy area at the end of this waterway is called the Delkatla Flats. People also call the waterway the Delkatla Slough, and it is fed by Delkatla Creek.
A Look Back in Time
The very first farm in Haida Gwaii was started in the 1880s. It was located on the east side of the Delkatla Flats.
Even though Wilson Duff noted in 1954 that Delkatla had no people living there, it actually began as a successful plan to sell land. This happened during a time when many people were buying land and looking for minerals in Haida Gwaii. This period was in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
A man named Charles Wilson first advertised the Delkatla townsite in 1911. He officially registered it in April 1913. As new settlers moved in, they found many old stone tools and other items. These discoveries showed that Delkatla was likely a large Haida village a long time ago.
Today, a big part of the area is taken up by the Delkatla Wildlife Sanctuary. This sanctuary helps protect local wildlife and their homes.
