Lyell Island facts for kids
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Haida: Athili Gwaii
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The northern Pacific Northwest Coast, showing the position of the archipelago in relation to other islands in the region. The southern half of Prince of Wales Island is Kaigani Haida territory, but is not commonly included in the term Haida Gwaii.
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| Geography | |
| Location | Coast of British Columbia |
| Coordinates | 52°40′00″N 131°30′00″W / 52.66667°N 131.50000°W |
| Archipelago | Queen Charlotte Islands |
| Administration | |
Lyell Island, also known as Athlii Gwaii in the Haida language, is a large island. It is part of the Haida Gwaii archipelago, located off the coast of British Columbia in Canada. This special island is also a part of the Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site.
Protecting Lyell Island
Lyell Island became famous because of important protests that happened there. These protests were about protecting the island's forests from logging. People wanted to keep the natural beauty and important cultural sites safe.
The 1985 Protests
In 1985, many Haida people and their supporters gathered on Lyell Island. They stood up against logging companies to protect their ancestral lands. The protests began on October 24, 1985, and lasted for three months.
Many people who joined the protests were taken in by authorities. Among them was Svend Robinson, a Canadian Member of Parliament. These actions brought a lot of attention to the island's future.
Creating Gwaii Haanas
The strong efforts of the Haida people and their allies led to a big change. Their protests helped create the Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site. This special place protects the land, sea, and Haida culture for everyone. It shows how standing up for what you believe in can make a huge difference.
