Kiusta facts for kids

Kiusta (Haida: K’yuusda) is a very old Haida village located on Haida Gwaii, a group of islands off the coast of British Columbia. It's known as the oldest Northern Haida village and was the first place where Haida people met Europeans in 1774. People have lived in Kiusta for thousands of years. Its location is very safe and sheltered, which made it a great spot for boats, especially when the ocean was rough. Kiusta is one of the oldest places in British Columbia where people have lived, and today it's still important for keeping Haida culture alive.

What Does Kiusta Mean?

The name Kiusta means "where the trail comes out" in the Haida language. This name refers to a special trail that connects Kiusta to another village called T’áalan Stl’áng. This trail is quite large and people still use it today to travel between these villages on the west coast of Graham Island.

Where is Kiusta Village?

Kiusta village sits on a calm beach that faces Cloak Bay. This is on the northwest part of Graham Island, right across from Langara Island. The village looks north towards Parry Passage, which has strong ocean currents. However, Kiusta is well protected from these currents by a natural reef called Marchand Reef.

A Look Back in Time: Kiusta's History

Kiusta is one of the few places that archaeologists have studied to find out its age. In 1986, archaeologists from the Haida Gwaii Museum found charcoal from old campfires that was 10,400 years old! This makes Kiusta one of the oldest known places where humans lived in British Columbia.

First Meetings with Europeans

During the time of the maritime fur trade, a powerful leader named Chief Cuneah was in charge of Kiusta. He had a lot of influence over the whole area. In 1787, George Dixon, a European visitor, came to the Kiusta area. He named the bay where he traded "Cloak Bay" because he bought many beautiful cloaks made from sea otter fur there. The first European to visit Kiusta and meet Chief Cuneah was William Douglas in June 1789.

In 1799, a drawing of Kiusta was made in the journal of a ship called the Eliza. This drawing showed a wide view of the village from the water, giving us an idea of what it looked like back then.

The Smallpox Epidemic of the 1830s

In the late 1830s, a terrible sickness called smallpox spread across the North Coast. This disease caused many deaths among the Haida people. Some estimates say that more than half of the Haida population died, while others believe it was closer to 80 or 90 percent.

Because so many people died, trade became controlled by fewer chiefs. Over the next 25 years, chiefs like Chief Edenshaw of Kiusta had to work more closely with other chiefs. This was because their village was far away and had fewer people. Many Haida people eventually moved to Masset, where there were missionaries and other services.

Trading Abalone Shells

Archaeologists have found evidence of trade in abalone shells at Kiusta. Abalone are sea snails with beautiful, shiny shells. It seems that traders brought abalone shells from California to Haida Gwaii. They did this because they noticed the local Haida people used smaller, paler abalone shells from their own area. American traders, who were very active in the sea otter fur trade from the 1790s to the 1840s, likely brought these shells.

The Haida people used abalone shell pieces for many things. They made personal decorations like labrets (lip ornaments) and jewelry. They also used them to decorate clothing, ceremonial outfits, and even carvings made from argillite (a type of black slate). Some Haida families even used abalone shells as special symbols or crests.

The Edenshaw Chiefs

The name Edenshaw is a very old and important Haida chief's name. It was first mentioned by fur traders in the 1790s. Like all Haida chief names, it was passed down through the family line from a chief to his eldest sister's son.

One famous chief was Albert Edward Edenshaw. Around 1840, he built his house in Kiusta. He named it Story House, and it stood where his ancestor's house, called Property House, used to be. Albert Edward had a dream that showed him how to carve the posts and poles for his new house. When Story House was finished, he held a huge potlatch, which is a traditional Haida feast and ceremony. He invited guests from many other villages.

The famous artist Charles Edenshaw was Albert Edward's nephew and the person who would inherit his title. Charles Edenshaw made a model of Story House for a researcher named John R. Swanton. This model is now in the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

The Stastas Eagles

The Stastas Eagles are an important group within the Eagle clan on the north coast of the Haida Gwaii islands. It's thought that some of the Stastas people originally came from outside the islands, perhaps from the Stikine River or the Nass River. Even though most of their lands were around Rose Spit (at the northeastern tip of the islands) and in Naden Harbour, they were also important chiefs in Kiusta village at the northwest end.

Mapping Haida Art

In 1966, the National Museum of Man started a big project to study the ancient history of the northern coast of British Columbia. This project began by mapping the village of Kiusta in Cloak Bay. Researchers created detailed records for each village, including information about their histories, who owned which houses, and what the figures on the carved poles (often called totem poles) meant.

Over ten thousand old photographs were collected from museums and archives in North America and Europe. These photos were very helpful for checking if the maps of the sites were correct. Careful notes kept by the photographers (many of whom worked for government survey teams) helped to figure out the dates of the houses and monuments. These old photographs are some of the only records left that show how rich and varied Haida monumental art was.

Kiusta's Future: Revitalization

Today, there are three new longhouses built at the site of the ancient village of Kiusta. These new buildings, standing among old poles that have witnessed so much history, show the strength and future of the Haida people.

Across the narrow water channel that separates Kiusta from Langara Island, there are three floating lodges for people who like to fish. These lodges are part of the Haida plan to manage the salmon resources around the islands. This plan helps make sure there will always be enough salmon for the future.

Also, teenagers from the islands can stay at Lapas Bay for a two-week "Rediscovery programme." This program offers hands-on learning about the environment, practical skills, and teaches respect for traditional Haida culture.