Gidansda Guujaaw facts for kids

Gidansda Giindajin Haawasti Guujaaw, also known as Gary Edenshaw, is a respected leader of the Haida Nation. He is a talented singer, wood carver, and a practitioner of traditional Haida medicine. He is also known as a strong political activist who works for his people.

He belongs to the Gakyaals Kiiqawaay family, which is part of the Raven moiety of the Haida people. In 2017, he received the name Gidansda at a special ceremony called a potlatch. This name also gives him the title of hereditary leader for his family.

About Gidansda Guujaaw's Life

Guujaaw is a Haida person whose family line is traced through his mother's side, which is called matrilineal descent. His family, Gakyaals Kiiqawaay, belongs to the Raven group from the village of Skedans (Ḵ'uuna). He was born in Masset, known as G̱aaw in the Haida language, located in the northern part of Haida Gwaii. His father's family comes from the Eagle group near the Yakoun River.

The name Guujaaw means "drum." This name was officially given to him at a potlatch ceremony held in Kiusta.

Growing Up on Haida Gwaii

Guujaaw spent a lot of time outdoors from a young age. He would dig for cockles and gather seaweed with his mother. He also went hunting and fishing with his father, and trapping with his uncle. When he was very young, he spent summers with his great-grandmother, who lived to be 114 years old. She was a singer who recorded over 100 songs, and she greatly influenced his life.

Older members of the community, called Elders, were also very important in Guujaaw's life. They helped him learn about the world and the old ways of the Haida people. Because of their wisdom, Guujaaw traveled around the Islands, often alone, in rowboats and canoes. He knows the land and waters of Haida Gwaii very well.

Working for the Haida Nation

For twenty years, Guujaaw worked with the Council of the Haida Nation. He helped protect parts of the Islands and pushed for careful, sustainable use of the natural resources. He was a key leader in the effort to protect Gwaii Haanas (also known as South Moresby). He also took part in protests against logging on Lyell Island in the mid-1980s.

He was a member of the Archipelago Management Board. This board works with the Government of Canada to manage Gwaii Haanas. Guujaaw helped create the plans and ideas for the Council of the Haida Nation. He also worked as a negotiator for the Council. He helped develop rules to protect old Haida sites, like culturally modified trees. He also held the special position of 'Firekeeper' for the Hereditary Chiefs of Haida Gwaii.

Sharing Haida Culture

Guujaaw has often written for Haida Laas, the official newspaper of the Council of the Haida Nation. He is a dedicated teacher who works to pass on Haida songs and dances to younger generations. He does this as part of teaching the wider Haida culture. His deep love for the land and understanding of how fragile life is has led him to spend much of his adult life protecting the land from harmful changes.

All that we say is ours is of Haida Gwaii. This is our lot, our heritage, our life ... and one of the world's great cultures.

Today, Guujaaw continues to balance his wood carving with many other important roles. These include being a political activist, a teacher, a traditional medicine practitioner, a historian, and a performer.

His son, Gwaai Edenshaw, is an artist and film director. He is well-known as the co-director of Edge of the Knife (SG̲aawaay Ḵʹuuna), which was the first full-length movie made entirely in the Haida language.