Queen Charlotte City, Graham Island
Today we got a taxi ride to the Haida Heritage Centre. There we had an orientation for travel in Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and the UNESCO World Heritage Site at S'Gang Gwaay. This included some of the background of the area, features as well as some do's and don't's presented via a video and an orientation leader. At each of the major village sites they have a Watchman. A Watchman is responsible for the safety to the site. They make sure there is no vandalism as well as using it as an opportunity to learn and practice the Haida culture with elders also at each site. In Haida culture a watchman was responsible for alerting the village of danger such as bad weather conditions, attacks from outsiders, bears, etc. Afterwards we registered and paid for our permits. The center includes a museum, gift shop, snack bar, canoe center and demonstration area. The museum is a must see. We got a chance to speak with a woman who family lineage goes back to the 1800's at the village of Skedans. And, we bought Gwaii Haanas t-shirts!
We walked to Skedigate and had lunch at Dave's Takeout. Great hamburgers, by the way. Then took a taxi back to Queen Charlotte City for a little provisioning (coke, Rum, lettuce, tuna), checked out some bookstores and then back to the boat to relax. Our taxi driver, Ron's son is the watchman at Hotsprings Island, Gandll K'in Gwaay-yaay.
Tomorrow we will go over to Sandspit to top off our fuel and then head south, possibly to Skedans, aka K'uuma Linagaay, on Louise Island.
Haaw'a (thank you)
SV Windarra
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