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S G ang Gwaay

Canada

Background

World Heritage since
1981
Type of site
Cultural
Village last occupied
c. 1880

The village of Ninstints, on a small island off the west coast of Haida Gwaii, keeps the remains of houses together with carved mortuary and memorial poles that illustrate the Haida people's art and way of life. UNESCO says the site commemorates the living culture of the Haida and their relationship to the land and sea, and offers a visual key to their oral traditions; the village was occupied until shortly after 1880.

SG̱ang Gwaay Llnagaay, Red Cod Island, is the Haida name for Anthony Island, in Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site; it has the largest collection of Haida poles in their original places, which the Haida are allowing to decay naturally in the rainforest. It is extremely remote, reached only by sea or air from the towns in the north, and Haida Watchmen are stationed there in summer. Wikivoyage says the islands are reached by daily flights from Vancouver to Sandspit and Masset, or the seven to eight hour ferry from Prince Rupert.

More on the UNESCO listing More on Wikipedia

  1. Late 18th c.Ships' captains record the village as Koyah's, after its chief
  2. Mid-19th c.Chief Ninstints gives the village its English name
  3. c. 1880The village is abandoned
  4. 1981Inscribed as World Heritage

Find Your Way Around

The main parts of the site, in the order most visitors see them

  1. 1
    The Poles
    Mortuary and memorial poles standing where they were raised, weathering into the moss.
  2. 2
    The Long Houses
    The remains of the great cedar houses along the sheltered bay.
  3. 3
    Haida Watchmen
    Haida hosts who guard and interpret the village.
  4. 4
    Haida Heritage Centre
    The museum and cultural centre at Kaay Llnagaay in Skidegate.
  5. 5
    Gwaii Haanas
    The park reserve of islands, forest and sea around the village.

Know Before You Go

From Wikivoyage and the GoGo guides

Getting to the Islands
Wikivoyage: daily flights from Vancouver to Sandspit or Masset, or BC Ferries from Prince Rupert; a ferry links Skidegate and Alliford Bay every hour or two.
Remote by Any Measure
The village is reached only by boat or floatplane with an operator; there are few services on the islands.
The Misty Islands
A moist, mild climate; expect rain.
Start at Skidegate
The Haida Heritage Centre gives the context before the long trip south.

South to SG̱ang Gwaay

Not yet in a GoGo guide

  1. 09:00
    Haida Heritage Centre, Skidegate2 hrs
    Haida art and history before you go.
  2. 08:00
    Next Day: SG̱ang Gwaay by Boat or Floatplane8 hrs
    The poles and house pits, with the Watchmen.

Best Time to Visit

Best months: Aug. Rainy season Mar, Oct–Jan.

Typical highs

Best monthsRain: wettest Jan (225 mm), driest Jul (69 mm)

Climate: NASA POWER

Sources
UNESCO World Heritage Centre, listing 157 · Wikipedia: Ninstints · Wikivoyage: Haida Gwaii (CC BY-SA 4.0) · UNESCO listing