The photographs presented here are as recent as August 2023 taken while I was visiting family in Haida Gwaii, British Columbia. We arrived in Daajing Giids just a couple of weeks after a historic signing of an agreement between the Haida Nation and Canada. Known as the Nang K'uula • Nang K'úulaas Recognition Agreement, this is a significant step towards reconciliation, or Gud ad T'alang HIGang.guixa Tll Yahda • Tll yá'adee Gii gud ahl t'álang hlGángulaang ("People working together to make it right").
"Today's signing ceremony (July 18, 2023) formalizes the commitment of Canada to legally recognize the Council of the Haida Nation as the governing body of the Haida Nation through legislation, mirroring the work done by the Haida Nation and British Columbia this past spring with the passing of The Haida Nation Recognition Act." Council of the Haida Nation
All photographs © Copyright Eleni Smolen 2023
September 17, 2023
"Today's signing ceremony (July 18, 2023) formalizes the commitment of Canada to legally recognize the Council of the Haida Nation as the governing body of the Haida Nation through legislation, mirroring the work done by the Haida Nation and British Columbia this past spring with the passing of The Haida Nation Recognition Act." Council of the Haida Nation
All photographs © Copyright Eleni Smolen 2023
September 17, 2023
Photographs 2023
SGang Gwaay (Anthony Island) UNESCO World Heritage Site SGang Gwaay is on the exposed southwest coast of Gwaii Haanas; The ancient village, SGang Gwaay Llnagaay, is located in a sheltered by on the east side of the island. House pits, standing posts and beams of longhouses, upright and fallen, worn poles represent another time and example of traditional Northwest Coast First Nations village. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981.
SGang Gwaay (Anthony Island) UNESCO World Heritage Site
SGang Gwaay is on the exposed southwest coast of Gwaii Haanas;
The ancient village, SGang Gwaay Llnagaay, is located in a sheltered by on the east side of the island. House pits, standing posts and beams of longhouses, upright and fallen, worn poles represent another time and example of traditional Northwest Coast First Nations village. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981.
SGang Gwaay is on the exposed southwest coast of Gwaii Haanas;
The ancient village, SGang Gwaay Llnagaay, is located in a sheltered by on the east side of the island. House pits, standing posts and beams of longhouses, upright and fallen, worn poles represent another time and example of traditional Northwest Coast First Nations village. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981.
SGang Gwaay pole
Collapsed longhouse
SGang Gwaay poles
Visitor to the yard in Daajing Giids
August 2023
August 2023
Riff on barnacles and seaweed 4 thru 20
Riff
Looking Northeast to North Beach from Taaw Tidáaw, Graham Island
Temperate rain forest
Taaw Tidáaw
Looking South from Taaw Tidáaw
Sarah's Haida Arts & Jewelry, Old Masset
![ELENI SMOLEN Photographs 2023](http://d3zr9vspdnjxi.cloudfront.net/artistInfo/elenismo/biggest/2164.jpg?1695238460 "The "Greeter" at North Beach watching his owner surfing")
The "Greeter" at North Beach watching his owner surfing
Joyful greeting from this beauty when we arrived at North Beach
Stand by Me
Hanging out at North Beach on a Stormy Day
41.
42.
North Beach – Taaw Tidáaw in the far distance
Spirit Lakes Trail
Brambleberries
Haida Gwaii Museum at Qay Llangaay
The beach at the Museum
Bill Reid canoe and totem at Museum
Museum longhouse
Museum view
Totem at Museum
Memorial Totems at Museum at Kay Llnagaay
Old growth in Gwaii Haanas
Riff on decomposing cedar log on beach 70 thru 82
Low Tide, Jungle Beach
Rennell Sound
Hiding in Plain Sight/Rennell Sound
Rennell Sound
Rennell Sound
Rennell Sound
Tangled Web Series
Tangled Web Series
Towards Gwaii Haanas
Old railroad
Bull Kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana)
lunch by the water at Windy Bay
Windy Bay
Kelp
Longhouse at Windy Bay which housed activists during the 1985 Blockade on Llyell Island
Photograph taken August 15, 2023
Photograph taken August 15, 2023
Gwaay Haanas Legacy Pole raised at Hlk'yah Llnagaay (Windy Bay Villege) on August 15, 2013
Lead carver: Jaalen Edenshaw; Assistant Carvers: Gwaai Edenshaw and StllnGa
Linked to the 1985 Lyell Island Blockade by nonviolent Haida activists to protest the logging on the island. They stood their ground for three months and ultimately successed in defending the forest from further logging. As a consequence of the blockade and subsequent agreement, Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve was established on South Moresby Island.
Lead carver: Jaalen Edenshaw; Assistant Carvers: Gwaai Edenshaw and StllnGa
Linked to the 1985 Lyell Island Blockade by nonviolent Haida activists to protest the logging on the island. They stood their ground for three months and ultimately successed in defending the forest from further logging. As a consequence of the blockade and subsequent agreement, Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve was established on South Moresby Island.
Legacy Pole raised August 15, 2013 (Watchman/Haida Elder/Activist Laada explained the history of the 1985 Blockade and the significance of Windy Bay during the protest.
August 15, 2023
August 15, 2023
Legacy Pole from the side/back
