Skidegate
Skidegate
Hlg̱aagilda | |
|---|---|
 View of the Kay Llnagaay beach in Skidegate. | |
  Location of Skidegate in Haida Gwaii | |
| Coordinates: 53°16′02″N 131°59′26″W / 53.26722°N 131.99056°W | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | British Columbia |
| Region | Haida Gwaii |
| Regional district | North Coast |
| Founded | 1850 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Band government |
| • Body | Skidegate Band Council |
| • Chief Councillor | Willard Wilson |
| Area | |
• Total | 5.65 km2 (2.18 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 28 m (92 ft) |
| Population (2016)[1] | |
• Total | 837 |
| • Density | 138.3/km2 (358/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| Highways |  Highway 16 (TCH) |
| Waterways | Hecate Strait |
Skidegate /ˈskɪdɪɡɪt/ (Haida: Hlg̱aagilda)[2] is a Haida community in Haida Gwaii in British Columbia, Canada. It is on the southeast coast of Graham Island,[3] the largest island in the archipelago, and is approximately 50 kilometres (31 mi) west of mainland British Columbia across Hecate Strait.
Skidegate, which is on Skidegate Indian Reserve No. 1 and was formerly home to the Skidegate Mission[4][5] is also the northern terminal for the BC Ferries service between Graham Island and Alliford Bay on Moresby Island.
Naming
[edit]According to tradition, the village was named after an earlier village chief, Sg̱iida-gidg̱a Iihllngas, 'Son of the Chiton'[6] whose name late 18th-century traders in sea otter pelts recorded as Skidegate.[7] Between 1790 and 1820, the community was a hub for the exploitation of sea otter furs.[7][8]
Totem poles
[edit]Skidegate is home to a number of totem poles:[9]
- T'anuu'llnagaay (Tanu) by Giitsxaa
- Hlknul'llnagaay (Cumshewa) by Gidansda Guujaaw
- HlGaagilda'llnagaay (Skidegate) by Norman Price
- K'uuna'llnagaay (Skedans) by Jim Hart
- Ts'aahj'llnagaay (Chaatl) by Garner Moody
- Eagle and Bear Mother by Dick Bellis
- Dogfish, by Bill Reid
- Unity Pole
- Chief Skedans Jimmy Wilson Memorial by Bert Wilson and Joe Mander
- Strongman by Tim Boyko, Skaadgaa Naay elementary school
- Chief Wiiganaad Sid Crosby Naa'uuwans (chieftanship) by Tim Boyko and Jason Goetzinger
- Weeping Woman of Taanu by Norman Price St
- Chieftanship Pole to Honour Matriarch Barb Wilson
- SGang Gwaay'llnagaay (Ninstints) by Tim Boyko
- Kaay Watchman's pole
The Haida Heritage Centre is in Skidegate along the town's eastern boundary.
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ "Census Profile, 2016 Census". February 5, 2016.
- ^ "FirstVoices: Hlg̱aagilda X̱aayda Kil: words". Retrieved July 8, 2012.
- ^ "BC Geographical Names". apps.gov.bc.ca. Archived from the original on February 26, 2014. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
- ^ "BC Geographical Names". apps.gov.bc.ca. Archived from the original on February 26, 2014. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
- ^ "BC Geographical Names". apps.gov.bc.ca. Archived from the original on February 26, 2014. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
- ^ Hlg̱aagilda X̱aayda Kil, Haida language at FirstVoices. Accessed 1 July 2017.
- ^ a b G.F. MacDonald,[Skidegate https://www.sfu.ca/brc/virtual_village/haida/skidegate.html] 1983, SFU Bill Reid Centre. Accessed 1 July 2017.
- ^ Skidegate, VancouverIsland.com (Archived link). Accessed 1 July 2017.
- ^ "The totem poles of Haida Gwaii". Haida Gwaii. Haida Gwaii Observer. p. 30.
