Haida Heritage Centre facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Haida Heritage Centre
Haida Heritage Centre at Kay Llnagaay
General information
Location	Second Beach Road, Skidegate, British Columbia, Canada
Coordinates	53°14′53″N 131°59′59″W / 53.2481°N 131.9998°W / 53.2481; -131.9998
Completed	July 1, 2007 (soft opening)
Opening	August 23, 2008
Cost	$19.2 million (total projected cost)
Technical details
Floor area	4,800 m2 (52,000 sq ft)
Design and construction
Architect	David Nairne & Associates Ltd.

The Haida Heritage Centre is a special place that celebrates the culture and history of the Haida people. It's like a big museum and cultural hub all in one! You can find it in Skidegate, a community on Graham Island in Haida Gwaii, which is off the coast of British Columbia, Canada.

The Centre is built near an old village site called Kay Llnagaay. This name is pronounced kie-il-na-guy and means "Town of Sea Lions." The Haida people manage the Centre. It's a key place for visitors to learn about Haida culture. Many people say it's where "a Haida voice can be heard." The Centre also works with schools and universities to offer cool educational programs.

Inside the Centre, you'll find lots of interesting things. There's a place to learn about Haida culture, spaces for art shows, a special Performing House, and a Canoe House. There's also a Carving Shed, the Bill Reid Teaching Centre, and a bigger Haida Gwaii Museum. Plus, there's a gift shop and a small cafe.

A Look Back: How the Centre Began

Planning for this amazing Heritage Centre started in the mid-1990s. In 1995, a group called the Qay’llnagaay Heritage Centre Society was formed. They worked with many partners, including the Skidegate Band Council and Parks Canada.

Many different groups helped pay for the Centre. This included Parks Canada, the Canadian government, and local funds. The goal was to finish the project by mid-2005. It actually had a "soft opening" on July 1, 2007. This means it opened quietly to the public.

The big Grand Opening happened on August 23, 2008. It was a very special day! They launched, named, and traditionally presented three new canoes. These were the first canoes made in Skidegate since Bill Reid's famous Loo Taas in 1985. Both Loo Taas and another canoe called Loo-plex joined the new canoes coming ashore.

Exploring the Centre: Buildings and Art

The Haida Heritage Centre was designed to look like a traditional Haida village. The architects made it resemble a series of longhouses. It has five modern longhouses made of cedar wood. These buildings are connected by a central area.

One of the first things you'll notice are the six tall Haida totem poles. These poles stand for six different villages of Skidegate. Each pole was carved by a different artist. They were put up in 2001.

Let's explore some of the main parts of the Centre:

• Welcome House (Stlaay Daw Naay): This is where visitors first arrive and are greeted.
• The Carving House (Gyaa K'id Naay): This is a big, open building. Local artists work here on large projects. They carve huge poles, canoes, and other big art pieces.
• The Canoe House (Skaajang Naay): Here, you can learn all about the Haida's traditional way of travel. Canoes were super important for fishing, gathering food, and trading. This house is home to Bill Reid’s 50-foot cedar canoe, Loo Taas. It also has a full-size copy made of fiberglass, called Loo-plex. Both canoes are used for special events and canoe races. Artists also work here making paddles and bentwood boxes.
• Performance House (Gina Guu Aahliuu Naay): This is like a theater. It can hold up to 250 people. The room is designed like a traditional Haida dugout longhouse. It's a great place for performances and gatherings.
• Bill Reid Teaching Centre (Aahl Sgwaansing Naay): This area has studios and classrooms. Young Haida artists can learn their skills here from master carvers and designers. They also offer special training and university courses in fine arts.

The Haida Gwaii Museum: A Journey Through Time

The Queen Charlotte Islands Museum Society started in 1973. Their goal was to create a museum for the islands. The museum first opened in 1976. It researches the Haida people and their culture. It also collects old items, records, and information about the Haida and European settlers. The museum's collection mostly covers the years from 1900 to 1990. When the Haida Heritage Centre was built, the museum became a part of it.

The museum's exhibits are set up like a timeline. You start with "In the Beginning," which shows life before Europeans arrived. Then you move to "Contact & Conflict," about when Europeans first met the Haida. Finally, "Our Way of Life" shows Haida life today.

The galleries display many pieces of Haida history and modern life. You can see Haida art, like button blankets, argillite carvings (which are carvings made from a special black stone), and totem poles. You can also learn about the natural history of the islands and the Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site. There's also a special gallery for art shows throughout the year.

The museum proudly features many totem poles. Some are modern, and some were carved way back in the 1800s! In 2022, the museum received some very valuable Haida artifacts. A museum in the UK returned these items to the Haida Nation. These special pieces include an argillite tray with ivory and an argillite sculpture.