The Haida are a First Nation tribe found on the boundary between British Columbia and southern Alaska, most of the population resides withing the archipelago of Haida Gwaii.
They have always had a deep material culture with unique contributions to trades through their weaving and carving skills. The works of Haida people would reach out to neighboring tribes and have provided a record of the relationship between them and neighboring tribes such as the Tlingit.
The Haida had a thriving population throughout their islands and villages prior to contact with English colonizers who brought measles, typhoid, and smallpox (Archived). The introduction of colonizers to the area is reflected in the changes to both Haida material culture and trade.
This exhibit will briefly go through the changes to Haida trade from the pre to post colonial era.
Credits
B. Harrington