The Xaadas came to present day Alaska from what is now the Queen Charlotte Islands of British Columbia, Canada. From Masset on Graham Island, they headed north across Dixon Entrance.
They landed somewhere around Cape Muzon at the southern tip of Dall Island. This area is now known as "Kaigani" and the Xaadas in Alaska are known as "Kaigani Haida". Some Xaadas settled on islands of the Cordova Bay area, thus the villages of Howkan, Klinkwan, and Sukkwan.
Some headed East around Cape Chacon and along the southern coast of Prince of Wales Island. These Xaadas eventually settled in Gasa'aan (Kasaan), or what is now called "Old Kasaan". Gasa'aan was first a Tlingit village and the name means "Pretty Town" in the Tlingit language.
In the early 1900s, the people abandoned their homes and the village, Old Kasaan, and moved to "New" Kasaan, after being encouraged to move with the offer of employment in a fish cannery there.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Xaadas Guusuu Xaad Kil
Xaad kil (Haida language) is the language spoken by the Xaadas (Haida people). "Guusuu" means "speak". So, Xaadas guusuu Xaad kil. ("Hod-oss goosoo Hod kill")
In Alaska, we have the Kaigani Xaadas, living in the villages of Hydaburg and Kasaan on Prince of Wales Island. My dad and his family grew up in Kasaan. My great-grandfather was born in Karta Bay, though the permanent village was Gasa'aan, what is now considered "Old Kasaan".
My interest in documenting and learning Xaad kil comes from my family background. In 2007, I made a short documentary, SURVIVING SOUNDS OF HAIDA, 8 minutes showing a few of our remaining Kasaan Xaadas descendants sharing some of their Xaad kil. I really want to make movies in Xaad kil.
Many people consider Xaad kil to be extinct. On the contrary! Though near the brink, we still have a few first speakers and some younger Xaadas learning their language. Thus, Xaad kil xiinangaanang! (Haida Lives!)
In Alaska, we have the Kaigani Xaadas, living in the villages of Hydaburg and Kasaan on Prince of Wales Island. My dad and his family grew up in Kasaan. My great-grandfather was born in Karta Bay, though the permanent village was Gasa'aan, what is now considered "Old Kasaan".
My interest in documenting and learning Xaad kil comes from my family background. In 2007, I made a short documentary, SURVIVING SOUNDS OF HAIDA, 8 minutes showing a few of our remaining Kasaan Xaadas descendants sharing some of their Xaad kil. I really want to make movies in Xaad kil.
Many people consider Xaad kil to be extinct. On the contrary! Though near the brink, we still have a few first speakers and some younger Xaadas learning their language. Thus, Xaad kil xiinangaanang! (Haida Lives!)
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