What could save the Haida?

Bill Reid Not ‘What’ could save the Haida but ‘Who’ and the who was Bill Reid. How the world began to learn about the Haida culture can be traced to the work of one man. Bill Reid was born in Victoria BC and was half Haida by his mother. His father was Scottish. Yet, his Haida mother kept this valuable information from him. He went to school and studied both jewellery making and also broadcasting. He became a very successful radio and television personality working for the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation).

Bill Reid found out he was half Haida when he was already a grown adult. He was interested in the stories his mother told him, and he starting exploring his mother’s culture and learned that it had almost disappeared. He travelled to Haida Gwaii and visited his great-uncle, a highly skilled jewellery maker named Charles Edenshaw, after which, to use his own words, “the world was not the same.” Famed Haida artist Charles Edenshaw

Bill Reid dedicated himself to his new love and produced impressive and highly artistic Haida jewellery. He soon had a small but dedicated following of people who regularly purchased his crafted rings, bracelets, pins, necklaces and many other pieces.

As good as Bill Reid’s jewellery was, this would not be enough to ‘save’ the Haida from their tragic ending. Something else was needed. It was during this time that Bill Reid started expanding his art work to include traditional Haida carving. His success in this area got the attention of people planning a famous event that would be happening in Vancouver British Columbia. It would be this event that would change the future of the Haida people.

Bill Reid was asked to build a traditional Haida canoe by the people who were planning for Expo ’86, the World’s Fair that was being held in Vancouver in The massive canoe would be the first of its kind carved in the 20th century. He constructed a 15-metre war canoe called Loo Taas (meaning ‘Wave Eater’), which was carved from a single cedar tree from Haida Gwaii. It’s impact on the thousands of visitors from around the world was amazing. The canoe ‘wowed’ Expo ‘86 spectators.

This single canoe was so outstanding that it began a rebirth in traditional canoe building across the province of British Columbia, as well as the restart of traditional Haida canoe journeys and even festivals among the Haida. Bill Reid constructed other canoes including the Black Eagle.

Bill Reid’s canoe The Lootaas canoe enjoyed a long and famous life. It was paddled all the way from the Haida Gawii islands to Alaska, and it even made an honorary journey up the Seine River in France to be displayed in Paris’ Museum of Man. The canoe remains in the Haida museum in Haida Gwaii, An exact replica was made for the Museum of Natural History located in Ottawa.

The art of Bill Reid became world famous. One of his most famous works came when he was asked to produce a traditional Haida art piece to sit outside the Canadian Embassy in Washington DC. His response was a bronze sculpture called ‘Spirit of Haida Gwaii – the Black Canoe’ made in It was also featured on the Canadian $20 bill between 2002 – 2012.

Bill Reid became a champion for the Haida. He continued his art making jewellery, boxes, sculptures, canoes, and even a giant totem pole. His popularity because of his radio and television career allowed him to share the story of the Haida people and the problems they were facing. He helped them in court battles against the governments of BC and Canada. When Bill Reid died in 1998 at age 78, his famous canoe, Loo Taas was used to transport his ashes back to his adopted home on Haida Gwaii. His ashes were placed inside a bentwood box.

The Haida Today Haida Gwaii Cultural Centre Haida traditional ceremony tourism Through the work of Bill Reid and other Haida people, the Haida culture has had a rebirth over the past 30 years. Today, world wide tourism to Haida Gwaii helps keep this culture alive. The Haida Heritage Centre at Kaay Lliagaay is an award-winning Aboriginal cultural tourism attraction located on the islands. The centre houses the Haida Gwaii Museum, additional temporary exhibition space, two classrooms, the Performance House, Canoe House, Bill Reid Teaching Centre, and The Carving House.

Hopefully, the future will be strong and prosperous for the Haida people and their culture. The more we learn about it and appreciate it, the better chance they have of surviving.

During World War 2, Canada made lots of ships for fighting. One series of ships was called ‘Tribal Class’ because all of them were named after different Native groups from Canada. One of these ships was called Haida. It is the only Tribal Class ship left from World War 2. It was also the most successful ship in the ‘Tribal Class’ during the war sinking more enemy ships than any other ship. It is permanently docked in Hamilton harbour for all to see.