XAADA CHAAN SGAANEWAAY

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XAADA CHAAN SGAANEWAAY

• Haida Spirits of the Sea
• Jennifer Baird
• Canadian Heritage Information Network
• Lucille Bell
• Old Massett Village Council

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Description

• Haida Spirits of the Sea tells the story of the
  Haida and their relationship to the sea, from the
  past to the present.
• Special Kiosk presentation in the Canada Pavilion
  at Expo98
• Dynamic on-line exhibition via the Internet and
  the Virtual Museum of Canada

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Project Goals

• Raise awareness of the Haida as a living culture.
• Support the theme of Expo98 Oceans A Heritage
  for the Future.
• Create a dynamic online exhibition for special
  presentation at Expo98 and as an educational
  resource via the Internet.

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Collaborators

• Old Massett Village Council
• Haida Gwaii Museum at Qayllnagaay
• Royal British Columbia Museum
• Museum of Anthropology at the University of
  British Columbia
• Department of Indian Affairs and Northern
  Development
• Canadian Heritage Information Network
• Young Canada Works

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Exhibitions

• 1998 Xaada Chaan Sgaanewaay
• ( Haida Spirits of the Sea )

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Distinctions

• A contribution in recognition of the United
  Nations International Decade of the Worlds
  Indigenous Peoples (1995-2004)
• Golden MIM, 1999
• AVICOM Best Web Site, 1999
• Best of the Web99 (Honourable Mention)

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Exhibitions (contd)

• 2000 IITLHLAANGAAY INNUSIVUT ( Our World
  Our Way of Life )

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Exhibitions (contd)

• 2002 Living Traditions

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Related Projects

• 2003 Astronomy Virtual Exhibition
• An exploration of the stars combining both
  scientific and cultural perspectives.
• Cultural content will focus on the living
  traditions of indigenous peoples in Canada and
  partner nations.
• Anishinabe, Blackfoot, Indigenous Australians,
  Indigenous Hawaiians

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Haida Approach

• Community Collaborators
• Old Massett Village Council
• Cultural Committee
• both Haida communities
• Goal - tell our stories through the Expo 98 and
  2000 themes (easily done!)
• Thematic focus - the sea, culture and
  sustainability

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Community approach

• Contract with OMVC of Old Massett.
• Skidegate Haida invited by OMVC to contribute.
• Brainstorming held with community to get an idea
  of the stories to tell.
• Text written and images selected by two people.
• Involve community members
• International audience stories about Haida art,
  logging, fishing, repatriation.

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Challenges

• Distance between partners.
• Technical difficulties in a rural community.
• Competition between multiple projects.
• Adding on to project such as taking a dance
  group to celebrate at the Canada Pavilion and
  sending an 18-foot totem pole to Germany and back
  again.

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Benefits

• Strengths of many partners
• Award-winning site
• Thorough site for tourists, students, researchers
  and media

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Beyond Spirits of the Sea

• The 1998 virtual exhibit project lead to other
  collaborations such as the Our WorldOur Way of
  Life exhibit and the Earth Summit in South
  Africa (2002).
• Internship opportunities
• Virtual exhibits used by local school programs
• Bookmarks as marketing tools and gifts

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Conclusion

• Howaa Thank-you
• For more information contact
• Lucille Bell
• Heritage Resources Officer - OMVC
• heritage_at_mhtv.ca
• Jennifer Baird
• Canadian Heritage Information Network
• jbaird_at_chin.gc.ca