page_title: Haida people
section_title: Villages
hierarchical_section_title: Haida people / Villages
caption_attribution_description: English: Haida carver Saaduuts at Center for Wooden Boats, Seattle, Washington, USA.
context_page_description: Haida are a nation and ethnic group native to, or otherwise associated with, Haida Gwaii meaning "Coming out of concealment" or sometimes "island of the People", and the Haida language. The Haida language is an isolate language, that has been spoken historically across Haida Gwaii and other islands on the Alaska Panhandle. Prior to the 19th century, Haida spoke a number of coastal First Nations languages such as Tlingit, Nisg̱a'a and Coast Tsimshian. This resulted in a sudden decline in its usage throughout the 1900s. Haida language champions are working through multiple initiatives to revitalize the Haida language along with Haida law, customs, and cultural identity.
  In Haida Gwaii, the Haida government consists of a matrix of national and regional hereditary, legislative, and executive bodies including the Hereditary Chiefs Council, the Council of the Haida Nation, Old Massett Village Council, Skidegate Band Council, and the Secretariat of the Haida Nation. These are based in the archipelago of Haida Gwaii outside the territorial seas of Canada off of northern British Columbia, Canada.
context_section_description: Historical Haida villages were:
  Kiusta
  Kung
  Yan
  Hiellan
  Skidegate (Graham Island)
  Cha'atl
  Haina
  Kaisun (Haida: Ḵaysuun Llnagaay)
  Cumshewa (Moresby Island)
  Skedans aka Koona or Q'una.
  Tanu (New Clew), Louise Island
  Ninstints (Sgang Gway, aka Anthony Island)
  Masset The name Masset, received from pre British contact between Haidas and the Spanish, actually includes three separate and adjoining communities,
  Atewaas (Old Massett)
  Jaahguhl
  Kayung
  Hlk'yah GaawGa (Windy Bay) (Lyell Island)
  Klinkwan (Kaigani Haida, Prince of Wales Island)
  Sukkwan (Kaigani Haida, Prince of Wales Island)
  Howkan (Kaigani Haida, Prince of Wales Island)
  Kasaan (Kaigani Haida, Prince of Wales Island)
  Tlell, British Columbia
  Dadens, Langara Island
caption: Haida carver Saaduuts, 2007
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