# Old Massett Village Council

Old Massett Village Council (OMVC; Haida: G̱aw X̱aadée Council Née) is a band government of the Haida people, located in Old Massett, on Haida Gwaii. Old Massett Village Council is one of two Canadian band governments for the Haida Nation, the other is the Skidegate Band Council. The main governing body of the Haida people is the Council of the Haida Nation, and as such the two band councils function as village governments.
As of 2024, the band has 3,304 registered members, 705 of whom live on reserve. It has 27 reserves, with a total area of 9.7 square kilometres (2,400 acres). The band is governed by an elected band council, consisting of one Chief and seven councillors, with elections held every three years.

## History

Old Massett was created in the mid 19th century by the consolidation of many northern Haida villages in the wake of the smallpox epidemic of 1862. It was first the location of a Hudson's Bay Company post in 1850,$^{:27}$ before becoming an Anglican mission in 1876, led by Rev. William H. Collison, and the Haida were defined as Indians under the newly introduced Indian Act.$^{:3}$ In 1882, the Massett Band was allotted sixteen reserves, which amounted to 752.4 hectares (1,859 acres), by reserve commissioner Peter O'Reilly.
In 1886, Massett was part of the North West Coast Indian Agency, which was headquartered in Metlakatla.$^{:78–79}$ In 1910, the North West Coast Agency was subdivided, and Massett and Skidegate became part of the Queen Charlotte Indian Agency,$^{:88}$ introducing a full-time Indian agent who lived in Old Massett, subjecting the Haida to close government supervision.$^{:34}$ The band was governed by the Indian agent, with the support of the band council, which consisted of community members.$^{:63}$ The band council was formed in 1910, and consisted of seven elected community members, most of whom were graduates of the former Anglican missionary school in Metlakatla.$^{:124–125}$
In 1913, band members provided testimony to the McKenna–McBride Commission, rejecting the imposition of reserves and demanding allotments that were equal to those given to other First Nations in the province. The Commission resulted in the allotment of five additional reserves.
In 1966, the Queen Charlotte Agency was combined with the Naas Agency, which was based in Prince Rupert, ending the close oversight by an Indian Agent which had been in place since 1910.$^{:34}$

## Reserves

Old Massett Village Council has 27 reserves, whose combined total area is 9.7 km$^2$, with the main reserve being Masset 1. The majority of the reserves are located on Graham Island, with 4 located on the nearby Langara Island. Reserves numbered 1-16 were part of the initial allotment by reserve commissioner Peter O'Reilly in 1882. Numbers 17-21 were allotted by Royal Commission in 1916.
List of reserves :
| No. | Name | Location | Area (hectares) |
| 1 | Massett | E shore of Masset Inlet below its entry point | 299.5 |
| 2 | Hiellen | Mouth of Hiellen River, south of Tow Hill Provincial Park, McIntyre Bay | 27.4 |
| 3 | Yagan | at Yakan Point, west of Tow Hill Provincial Park, on McIntyre Bay | 34.8 |
| 4 | Lanas | at the mouth of the Yakoun River, Yakoun Bay, SE shore of Masset Inlet | 78 |
| 5 | Satunquin | Strathdang Kwun, point on west side of Yakoun Bay, Masset Inlet | 3.6 |
| 6 | Ain | N shore of Masset Inlet | 66.4 |
| 7 | Yan | W side of entrance to Masset Inlet | 106.8 |
| 8 | Meagwan | at Wiah Point, N coast of Graham Island east of Virago Sound | 19.8 |
| 9 | Kose | left bank of the Naden River, four miles south of the mouth of Naden Harbour | 3.6 |
| 10 | Naden | at mouth of Standly Creek, Naden Harbour | 2.6 |
| 11 | Kung | W side of Alexandra Narrows, which connects Naden Harbour and Virago Sound | 28.7 |
| 12 | Danigay | W side of Virago Sound | 8.5 |
| 13 | Yatze | SE of Klashwun Point, W of Virago Sound | 18.2 |
| 14 | Jalun | NW of Nankivell Point, mouth of Jalun River | 7.1 |
| 15 | Kioosta | south shore of Parry Passage, site of Kiusta | 40.9 |
| 16 | Tatense | SW tip of Langara Island, south of Parry Passage | 6.5 |
| 17 | Susk | Peril Bay east of Frederick Island | 63.1 |
| 18 | Saouchten | Rooney Point, west side of Masset Harbour | 11.4 |
| 19 | Egeria Bay | | 10.1 |
| 20 | Cohoe Point | west side of Virago Sound | 8.5 |
| 21 | Yasitkun | northwest coast of Langara Island | 20.2 |
| 22 | Guoyskun | Rhodeas Point | 20.2 |
| 23 | Naden | at mouth of Standly Creek, Naden Harbour | 2.6 |
| 24 | Owun | at the mouth of Awun River on Awun Bay, south shore of Masset Inlet | 3 |
| 25 | Mammin River | mouth of the Mamin River on Mammin Bay, Masset Inlet | 2.5 |
| 27 | Tiahn | Tiany Bay | 2.3 |
| 28 | Tlaa Gaa Aawtlaas | | 63.7 |

## Demographics

As of February 2025, Old Massett Village Council had 3,304 registered members. 705 members lived on reserve and 2,599 lived off reserve.

## Council

The band council comprises eight members, with one chief councillor and seven council members. Elections take place every three years. The 2023–2026 council is:
* Donald Edgars (Chief Councillor)
* Lisa Bell
* Cecil Brown
* Robert Brown
* Benjamin Edgars
* Ashley Jacobson
* Brodie Swanson
* Lisa White