Our
terrific guide Linda showed us B/W 1800’s photos of the spectacular Haida
village that had been, today we were
looking at a village that had been devoured by a tsunami of ferns, lichens and
mosses.
The
Haidas believed that if it took more than an day to dig the pit for their long
houses, evil spirits would migrate from the earth to their home. The deeper the
pit, the more people you needed to hire to dig it in one day. Thus the depth of
your pit was an indicator of your wealth.
The "logs" across the pits are either log rafters or frontal poles.
This
is the chiefs house with four terraces. The pit was lined with cedar planks.
The head of the household and his immediate family lived at the back of the
long house, lesser family members in the middle, and slaves at the front door.
Haida were warriors that raided coastal villages and took slaves. In the back ground is the Watchman’s cabin.
Each summer they guide visitors through the villages.
One lonely wall plank endures
This
is the first pole raised in Gwaii Haanas National Park in 130 years. It
commemorates the park’s establishment. The park ranges from the sea bottom to
the mountain peaks.
The scorpion fish at the pole’s bottom represents the
underwater park and the eagle at the top the mountain peaks. The flared nostrils and large black eyes represent the grizzly bear.
A traditional Haida long house on the outside, no so much on the inside.
This long house is for kayakers that visit.
