What is Haida Gwaii Known For?
Haida Gwaii is an archipelago located off the coast of British Columbia, Canada. Haida Gwaii often called “Queen Charlotte Island”, home to the rich indigenous heritages and cultures, beautiful natural landscapes and abundant wildlife like subspecies such as black bear. Additionally, Haida Gwaii is also heaven for many fish species like whales, orcas, sea lions and marine birds.
Today Haida Gwaii is recognised as a home for Haida First National Peoples, and paradise for some attractions like totem poles, art, and natural attractions like pristine beaches, rainforest and diverse marine life’s. This massive island boasts more than 500 archaeological sites and world’s rich heritage sites making it one of the finest cultural heritage destinations in Canada. So, let’s discuss one by one what are the top places we must visit in Haida Gwaii?
Related Search: Tofino, Canada.
7 Must See Attraction in Haida Gwaii, Canada
1. Gwaii Haanas National Park
Island beauty always starts from visiting the most iconic attraction Gwaii Haanas National Park. The park located at the south end of Haida Gwaii, contains multiple cultural sites and natural wonders such as SGang Gwaa- UNESCO World Heritage Site and renowned standing Poles at SGang Gwaay. Additionally travelers easily access nearby rainforest, century old trees and learn the cultures and traditions of Haida first nation’s people. Backpackers do not miss out on watch black bear catching salmon and other fish species while discovering alpine flowers, herbs and grasses under the national park.
2. SGang Gwaay/Ninstints
SGang Gwaay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where ancient village ruins are available with carved totem poles. Located in the southeastern part of the Haida Gwaii, offers fallen poles, house pits and standing posts and beams of longhouses, recognised as the most renowned attraction under the island. One of the great places to watch collections of Haida totem poles in their original forms and it is also a great place to learn traditions of Haida cultures. Haida culture is all about wood, salmon, seafood and edible plants.
3. Haida Heritage Centre at Kaay Llnagaay
If you are looking to learn more about Haida culture, history, traditions and their rich heritage relationship with land and sea, then Haida Heritage Centre is a great option for you. Located in the Northwest coast of Columbia, where languages, art, stories, living cultures of Haida people and their deep connection between land and their daily lives are discussed. From breathtaking hand carved totem poles in Carving Hose to Haida Gwaii museum to Canoe House, Haida Heritage Centre provides more original, authentic Haida artworks.
4. Whale Watching
Haida Gwaii is a perfect spot to watch fin, sperm, grey, right and humpback whales, which usually migrate from nearby regions. Book your whale watching tour and it will help visitors be more fortunate to explore humpback whales and other diverse marine wildlife under more relaxing and exhilarating experiences. Each type of whale has different physical and natural features available to see through the Haida Gwaii ocean points. Watching whales is a year round activity usually arriving in February till fall season available to both blue and fin habitants.
5. Naikoon Provincial Park
Naikoon Provincial Park boasts a diverse array of geographical wonders from its coastal rainforest to vast shorelines and unique wildlife. Created in 1973, Naikoon Provincial is a place that includes both cultural and spiritual importance as well as some sort of historic village sites. Spread across 69,961 hectares of land, most of the Haida Gwaii popular attractions lay within its boundaries such as Tow Hill, Blow Hole Boardwalk, North Beach for beach combing and Pesuta Shipwreck for hiking. Since Naikoon contains coastal temperate rainforest, visitors are more fortunate to enjoy hiking, fishing, wilderness camping and many beach activities.
6. Village of Masset
Located on larger islands in Northern BC’s in Haida Gwaii, Village of Masset played as an administrative centre of Haida Station. Popular fishing village where backpackers go to experience the island’s best and most breathtaking landscapes, fishing activities, unique cultural and spiritual areas, multiple hiking trails, beaches and gateway to other island attractions. Delkatla Wildlife Sanctuary (home to 140 bird species including migratory), and The Dixon Entrance Maritime Museum (learn island’s maritime history) add more value to the village for its travel beauty.
7. Hotspring Island
This Hotspring Island has historical significance and was once used as a soothing pool for healing properties by the Haida peoples. Visitors can enjoy three pools of varying temperatures offering refreshing and relaxing experiences under the island’s most pristine and serene atmospheres. Numbers of dozen warm pools exclusively used as natural wonders. Accessing the island required permits and prior bookings as a part of Gwaii Haanas tours.
Haida Gwaii History
The history of Haida Gwaii starts from the last ice age when the entire island’s eco systems evolved and were scraped by the ice. After 2000 years this island retreated from the ice age and later treacherous water in the form of the Hecate Strait separating this island from the mainland helped to develop biological evidence.
Maybe after evolution of biological evidence, the island slowly became the perfect place for human appearances. According to historical evidence, this island has been inhabited by the indigenous tribes from thousands of years after the ice age. Majority of the Haida Gwaii history deeply rooted cultural legacy and traditions of Haida Nation.
Landmarks, some caves and evidence showcasing human habitants reaching back 15,000 years, making it one of the oldest yet continuous cultures in the world. Some archaeological evidence like totem poles, Haida art and sophisticated society makes local indigenous people have a great connection to this land.
But once Europeans started discovering this island slowly and negatively affected native cultures and lives. During 1700, they started expanding their legacy through trade, colonialism and conflicts. But 1800s smallpox disease utterly vanished Haida and native populations quickly declined from 30,000 to just 600.
The Haida continuously faced challenges during the colonial era like displacement and cultural suppression from European powers. But the interesting part is that still today Haida Gwaii remains a vital cultural and natural area, symbolizing resilience and traditions of local knowledge.
In 2009, its title, Queen Charlotte Islands, was removed and replaced with Haida Gwaii, which means “Islands of the Peoples”. Visit Haida Style Expeditions, and it will help you to learn and understand more about real local indigenous experiences including stories and history.
How to Get Haida Gwaii
1. Haida Gwaii Ferry
Visiting Haida Gwaii through Ferry is one of the easiest ways to explore the island. BC Ferries is a popular ferry service that operates daily between Prince Rupert to Skidegate. Additionally, this BC Ferries also starts from Moresby Island and Graham Island or Skidegate to Haida Gwaii. To know more about ferry schedules and timings visit its official website.
There is an inside passage schedule route available, this helps us to travel between Port Hardy of Vancouver Island to Prince Rupert.
2. Through Air
Another popular way to reach the island is through Air Travel. There are multiple flights daily operated from different destinations to Haida Gwaii either nationally or internationally. But Air Canada is the most recommended one, operated daily from Vancouver International Airport to Sandspit Airport.
Moreover, visitors also choose Pacific Coastal Airlines to reach the island, flying daily from Vancouver International Airport South Terminal to Masset Airport.
Additionally visitors also choose Inland Air floatplane trip or Moresby Explorer’s to discover more remote and unknown places in Haida Gwaii.
Related Search: 7 Best Hotels in Vancouver, BC, Canada.