Koyah facts for kids

Koyah, also known as Xo'ya (which means Raven in the Haida language), was an important Haida chief who lived from about 1787 to 1795. He was the leader of Ninstints (also called Skungwai), a main village of the Kunghit-Haida people. This village was located in Haida Gwaii, an island group off the coast of British Columbia, Canada.

Koyah lived during a time called the Maritime Fur Trade. This was when European and American ships came to the coast to trade for animal furs, especially sea otter pelts. Koyah became well-known because he had more disagreements and conflicts with these ship captains than almost any other chief of his time. His story is a big part of the history of the fur trade and coastal exploration.

Early Encounters with Traders

At first, Koyah's meetings with the fur traders went smoothly. He had successful trading with Captain George Dixon in 1787, Captain Charles Duncan in 1788, and Captain Robert Gray in 1789. They exchanged goods peacefully.

Conflicts Begin

However, things changed when Koyah met Captain John Kendrick. They had two serious clashes, one in 1789 and another in 1791. The second meeting became very violent, and many Haida people were harmed or lost their lives.

Later Conflicts and Captures

Koyah continued to be involved in conflicts with trading ships.

Capturing Ships

• In 1793, Koyah helped another Haida chief named Cumshewa. Together, they took control of an American ship called the Resolution. A "brig" is a type of sailing ship with two masts.
• In 1794, Koyah's Haida people captured another brig named Ino, which belonged to Captain Simon Metcalfe. Most of the ship's crew did not survive this event.
• In 1795, Koyah also took part in an attack on Captain John Boit's ship, the Union. A "sloop" is a smaller sailing ship with one mast.

Despite these violent encounters, Koyah's territory remained a popular place for traders to visit. This was because the area had a large amount of high-quality furs available for trade.

See also

• Chief Cuneah