The Haida: Natives of the West Coast <The settlements of the Haida Natives

The Haida Canoe The Haida canoe was the main source of transportation to move goods up and down the coast from settlement to settlement. Each canoe ad a unique design which varied between regions. The average canoe was made of one large red cedar tree and was approximately 16 metres long and needed 10 men to paddle and a steersman (skipper, captain, etc.) to control the boat. To further increase it’s speed in the wind the canoes were equipped with three masts and sails. The canoes could averagely carry five tonnes of cargo.

Aggressive Natives… The Haida were feared along the coast because they would perform quick raids on villages that had little defense against them. Also the point of them having an island for a home added to the aggressive posture they held against all other places on the mainland. This is how they adapted the nickname “Indian Vikings of the North West Coast“.

Haida Village Northern Style Kiusta House Southern Style Skedans House Stay standing, Haida villages consisted of one or more rows of houses placed along a beach. Villages with two rows of houses were common, but villages with five rows or more of houses existed only in myth time. The house owned by the village chief was larger than the rest and stood near the middle of the village. Northern Style Kiusta House Southern Style Skedans House

Social Life of Haida The Haida were divided into two social groups, called Raven and Eagle. The Raven group was subdivided into twenty-two families, and the Eagle into twenty-three families. The families were not grouped into clans. All villages contained representatives of several families and most contained members of both social groups. Marriages had to take place between Eagles and Ravens, rather than those who belonged to the same families, and children became members of the same social group as their mother. Raven Eagle

Haida Religion The Haida believe Ne-Kilst-lass, their ‘Supreme Being’ as being a Raven, who brought light and order to the world. Ne-Kilst-lass is also presumed a troublemaker.

Haida Language Haida is an Alaskan language whose origin is unknown. Many linguists have considered their language to be an Athabaskan language, but others consider it a unique language only spoken by the Haida. Haida is spoken fluently by less than a hundred people today, all of them elders, but some young people are working to keep their native language alive. Translated: Equality: "Sameness of rights" Dignity: "Being respected, esteemed" Rights: "What everyone must accept"

Haida Clothing Hat> In times before contact, most items of Haida clothing were made from red or yellow cedar bark. After the bark was peeled in long strips from the trees, the outer layer was split away, and the inner layer was shredded and processed. The resulting felted strips of bark were soft and could be plaited, sewn or woven into a variety of fabrics that were either dense and watertight, or soft and comfortable. Women wore skirts and capes of cedar bark, while men wore long capes of cedar bark into which some mountain goat wool was woven for a decorative effect. Cape> Leggings> and trousers>

Resources Language: http://www.schoolnet.ca/aboriginal/tribute/haida-e.html Overall Info: http://www.civilization.ca/aborig/haida/haindexe.html#menu Images: http://images.google.ca/imghp?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&safe=off