Haida Gwaii Reading List
Paradise Won: The Struggle to Create Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve | By Elizabeth May
This book details the epic 12-year struggle to stop logging in the unique global ecosystem referred to as “The Galapagos of the North.” With so much of British Columbia’s economy reliant on logging, protection of the ancient forests on the 138 islands in Gwaii Haanas did not come easily. This battle fought by the Haida to recover control of lands they have lived on for well over 14,000 years is a reflection of similar battles being fought by Indigenous people around the world.
The Raven Steals the Light | By Bill Reid and Robert Bringhurst, Preface by Claude Levi-Strauss
This collection of traditional stories was recorded by Bill Reid, one of the most widely respected Haida carvers and storytellers of all time. These are not sanitized stories written for a modern audience—they present every facet of life, sometimes traveling into the shadows to find the truth.
The Haida Gwaii Lesson: A Strategic Playbook for Indigenous Sovereignty | By Mark Dowie
In this book, the hard-hitting environmental journalist, Mark Dowie, takes on the Haida struggle for sovereignty over Haida Gwaii—the homeland they have occupied at least since the last Ice Age. He presents their struggle as a model for other Indigenous groups who are fighting similar battles for control of their traditional lands.
During My Time: Florence Edenshaw Davidson, A Haida Woman | By Margaret B. Blackman & Florence Edenshaw Davidson
Florence Davidson, daughter of noted Haida carver and chief Charles Edenshaw, was born in 1896. As one of the few living Haida elders with memories of her traditional culture and beliefs, she was a fragile link with the past. Professor Blackman recorded more than fifty hours of Florence’s reminiscences about her girlhood, learning female roles and the power and the authority available to Haida women, and the challenges that came with being forced to fit into Canadian culture.
The Great Bear Rainforest, Canada’s Forgotten Coast | By Ian McAllister, Karen McAllister, and Cameron Young
Imagine falling in love with a place so deeply that you leave your daily life and move onto a sailboat to fight for its protection. Ian and Karen McAllister did just that, and this visually stunning book documents a decade of bringing to light the nooks and crannies of the British Columbia coastline—and the existential threats to its ecological integrity.
How to Be a Canadian, Even If You Already Are One | By Ian Ferguson and Will Ferguson
A tongue-in-cheek portrait of Canadian people and society, written by two native sons. It’s a guidebook for newcomers to Canada. The Fergusons have a good time poking fun at their compatriots, while at the same time providing insights into the cultural landscape.
This book details the epic 12-year struggle to stop logging in the unique global ecosystem referred to as “The Galapagos of the North.” With so much of British Columbia’s economy reliant on logging, protection of the ancient forests on the 138 islands in Gwaii Haanas did not come easily. This battle fought by the Haida to recover control of lands they have lived on for well over 14,000 years is a reflection of similar battles being fought by Indigenous people around the world.
The Raven Steals the Light | By Bill Reid and Robert Bringhurst, Preface by Claude Levi-Strauss
This collection of traditional stories was recorded by Bill Reid, one of the most widely respected Haida carvers and storytellers of all time. These are not sanitized stories written for a modern audience—they present every facet of life, sometimes traveling into the shadows to find the truth.
The Haida Gwaii Lesson: A Strategic Playbook for Indigenous Sovereignty | By Mark Dowie
In this book, the hard-hitting environmental journalist, Mark Dowie, takes on the Haida struggle for sovereignty over Haida Gwaii—the homeland they have occupied at least since the last Ice Age. He presents their struggle as a model for other Indigenous groups who are fighting similar battles for control of their traditional lands.
During My Time: Florence Edenshaw Davidson, A Haida Woman | By Margaret B. Blackman & Florence Edenshaw Davidson
Florence Davidson, daughter of noted Haida carver and chief Charles Edenshaw, was born in 1896. As one of the few living Haida elders with memories of her traditional culture and beliefs, she was a fragile link with the past. Professor Blackman recorded more than fifty hours of Florence’s reminiscences about her girlhood, learning female roles and the power and the authority available to Haida women, and the challenges that came with being forced to fit into Canadian culture.
The Great Bear Rainforest, Canada’s Forgotten Coast | By Ian McAllister, Karen McAllister, and Cameron Young
Imagine falling in love with a place so deeply that you leave your daily life and move onto a sailboat to fight for its protection. Ian and Karen McAllister did just that, and this visually stunning book documents a decade of bringing to light the nooks and crannies of the British Columbia coastline—and the existential threats to its ecological integrity.
How to Be a Canadian, Even If You Already Are One | By Ian Ferguson and Will Ferguson
A tongue-in-cheek portrait of Canadian people and society, written by two native sons. It’s a guidebook for newcomers to Canada. The Fergusons have a good time poking fun at their compatriots, while at the same time providing insights into the cultural landscape.
Set Sail on These British Columbia Adventures
Haida Gwaii: Islands at the Edge of the World
New Trip!
Haida Gwaii: Islands at the Edge of the World
Discover an archipelago of wonder off the coast of British Columbia—explore wild shorelines, ancient rainforest and 12,000 years of Haida culture on an intimate sailboat adventure in the marine wilderness.
10 Days / May–Jul
$10995
(+air)
12
Photo Expeditions Available
New Trip!
View Trip
Spirit Bears, Humpbacks & Wildlife of BC
New Itinerary!
Spirit Bears, Humpbacks & Wildlife of BC
Discover British Columbia at its wildest, in search of the elusive white Spirit Bear in the remote valleys of western Canada's Coast Range. Offshore, scout for humpback whales and orcas in emerald fjords.
9 Days / Sep–Oct
$11795
(+air)
12
Photo Expeditions Available
New Itinerary!
View Trip
Know Before You Go
