Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site
Encyclopedia
Ninstints
(Nan Sdins) or SGang Gwaay Llnaagay on Anthony Island
, in located in the southernmost part of Gwaii Haanas, just west of Kunghit Island
, was declared a UNESCO
World Heritage Site
in 1981. The remains of a Haida village on the eastern side of the island - SGang Gwaay Llnaagay - represent an outstanding example of a traditional Northwest Coast First Nations village site, complete with standing totem poles and the remains of cedar longhouses.
Haida people have a continuing presence at SGang Gwaay and four other village sites between May to September as part of the Haida Gwaii Watchmen Program. Between two and four Watchmen live at each site serving as guardians to protect the natural and cultural heritage of these sites.
Other historical villages within the boundaries of Gwaii Haanas included Cumshewa
, Clew (Tanu)
and Djí-gua.
. Close to 90% of Gwaii Haanas is forested, 9% is alpine and sub-alpine tundra. The remaining 1% is made up of lakes and wetlands.
As water drains from the highest mountains - including the rugged San Christoval Range
with peaks over 1100 metres (3,609 ft) - it helps fill over 40 freshwater lakes. In turn, this water drains through more than 100 salmon spawning streams.
. Forests of the leeward, or eastern side of Gwaii Haanas, are classic coastal temperate rainforests, dominant overstorey species include large western hemlock
, Sitka spruce
and western red cedar trees.
An estimated 750,000 seabirds nest along the shoreline of Gwaii Haanas from May through August. Many are burrow-nesters, such as the rhinoceros auklet, ancient murrelet and tufted puffin. Bald eagles are a common site and nest along the coastline. Because the islands are situated along the Pacific flyway, dozens of species of migrating birds stop here in spring and fall.
, recognized for its pristine environment and sustainable management practices.
Gwaii Haanas is a remote location, accessible by sea kayak, boat or chartered floatplane only.
An orientation is provided to all visitors before they enter Gwaii Haanas.
, CHIN
, and Virtual Museum of Canada
.
Ninstints
Ninstints is the usual name in English for SGang Gwaay Llanagaay , a village site of the Haida people and part of the Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site in Haida Gwaii on the North Coast of British Columbia, Canada...
(Nan Sdins) or SGang Gwaay Llnaagay on Anthony Island
Anthony Island (British Columbia)
Anthony Island is an island located in the southernmost Queen Charlotte Islands of the North Coast of British Columbia, Canada, to the west of Kunghit Island, the archipelago's southernmost. Anthony Island is noted for being the location of the ruins of SkungWai or SG̱ang Gwaay Llnaagay, commonly...
, in located in the southernmost part of Gwaii Haanas, just west of Kunghit Island
Kunghit Island
Kunghit Island is an island in the Canadian province of British Columbia. It is the southernmost island in the Haida Gwaii archipelago, located to the south of Moresby Island. The southernmost point of Kunghit Island, called Cape St James, is used to delineated the boundary between Hecate Strait...
, was declared a UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
in 1981. The remains of a Haida village on the eastern side of the island - SGang Gwaay Llnaagay - represent an outstanding example of a traditional Northwest Coast First Nations village site, complete with standing totem poles and the remains of cedar longhouses.
Haida people have a continuing presence at SGang Gwaay and four other village sites between May to September as part of the Haida Gwaii Watchmen Program. Between two and four Watchmen live at each site serving as guardians to protect the natural and cultural heritage of these sites.
Other historical villages within the boundaries of Gwaii Haanas included Cumshewa
Cumshewa, British Columbia
Cumshewa is a former village and of the Haida people located on the north flank of Cumshewa Inlet in the Queen Charlotte Islands of the North Coast of British Columbia, Canada...
, Clew (Tanu)
New Clew, British Columbia
New Clew, also Clue, Kloo, Kliew, Klue, Clew Indian Reserve, is a locality and First Nations reserve of the Haida people, located on the north shore of Louise Island, which is located in Cumshewa Inlet in the Queen Charlotte Islands of the North Coast of British Columbia, Canada.New Clew is...
and Djí-gua.
Potential expansion
In 2004, Parks Canada, on behalf of the federal government, added the entirety of Gwaii Haanas to its Tentative List of potential future World Heritage Sites, pending approval by UNESCO.Terrain and climate
The landscapes of Gwaii Haanas vary from deep fjords to rugged mountains, salmon spawning streams to sub-alpine tundraAlpine tundra
Alpine tundra is a natural region that does not contain trees because it is at high altitude. Alpine tundra is distinguished from arctic tundra, because alpine soils are generally better drained than arctic soils...
. Close to 90% of Gwaii Haanas is forested, 9% is alpine and sub-alpine tundra. The remaining 1% is made up of lakes and wetlands.
As water drains from the highest mountains - including the rugged San Christoval Range
San Christoval Range
The San Christoval Range is a 50 km long, jagged mountain range located on the west coast of Moresby Island, British Columbia, Canada. It is the only lineal mountain range in the Queen Charlotte Mountains and the highest peaks are just above 1000 m. The mountain range was named by Juan José...
with peaks over 1100 metres (3,609 ft) - it helps fill over 40 freshwater lakes. In turn, this water drains through more than 100 salmon spawning streams.
Flora
The west coast of Gwaii Haanas can receive over 4000 millimetres (157.5 in) of rain annually. Extreme exposure to wind and rain makes the forests on the west coast boggy and stunted, and are dominated by western red cedar and hemlockTsuga
Tsuga is a genus of conifers in the family Pinaceae. The common name hemlock is derived from a perceived similarity in the smell of its crushed foliage to that of the unrelated plant poison hemlock....
. Forests of the leeward, or eastern side of Gwaii Haanas, are classic coastal temperate rainforests, dominant overstorey species include large western hemlock
Western Hemlock
Tsuga heterophylla. the Western Hemlock, is a species of hemlock native to the west coast of North America, with its northwestern limit on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, and its southeastern limit in northern Sonoma County, California.-Habitat:...
, Sitka spruce
Sitka Spruce
Picea sitchensis, the Sitka Spruce, is a large coniferous evergreen tree growing to 50–70 m tall, exceptionally to 95 m tall, and with a trunk diameter of up to 5 m, exceptionally to 6–7 m diameter...
and western red cedar trees.
Fauna
Distinct island flora and fauna have evolved over thousands of years. Species here often differ from those found on the mainland. Many common continental species are not found on the islands, or have evolved into unique subspecies such as the black bear which is larger than its mainland cousin. Other species have been introduced relatively recently, such as the Sitka black-tailed deer, racoons, squirrels and beaver. Introduced species now exist in large numbers, much to the detriment of native plants and animals.An estimated 750,000 seabirds nest along the shoreline of Gwaii Haanas from May through August. Many are burrow-nesters, such as the rhinoceros auklet, ancient murrelet and tufted puffin. Bald eagles are a common site and nest along the coastline. Because the islands are situated along the Pacific flyway, dozens of species of migrating birds stop here in spring and fall.
Access
Gwaii Haanas came first in a survey of US and Canadian National Parks in National Geographic Traveler magazineNational Geographic Traveler
National Geographic Traveler is a magazine published by the National Geographic Society in the United States. It was launched in 1984. Local-language editions of National Geographic Traveler are published in Armenia, Belgium/the Netherlands, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Indonesia, Latin America,...
, recognized for its pristine environment and sustainable management practices.
Gwaii Haanas is a remote location, accessible by sea kayak, boat or chartered floatplane only.
An orientation is provided to all visitors before they enter Gwaii Haanas.
See also
- List of National Parks of Canada
- National Parks of Canada
Affiliations
The Museum is affiliated with: CMACanadian Museums Association
The Canadian Museums Association is a national organization for the promotion of museums in Canada.The Canadian Museums Association is the national organization for the advancement of the Canadian museum sector, representing Canadian museum professionals both within Canada and internationally. The...
, CHIN
Canadian Heritage Information Network
The Canadian Heritage Information Network is a Canadian government-supported organization that provides a networked interface to Canada's heritage, largely through the World Wide Web. It aims to give access to Canada's heritage for both Canadians and a worldwide audience, by supporting the...
, and Virtual Museum of Canada
Virtual Museum of Canada
The Virtual Museum of Canada is Canada's national virtual museum. With a directory of over 3,000 Canadian heritage institutions and a database of over 600 virtual exhibits, the VMC brings together Canada's museums regardless of size or geographical location.The VMC includes virtual exhibits,...
.