Hello,

My name is Tek’aronhia’kanere which means “she stares at the heavens”. I live in

Haida Gwaii: a remote group of islands located in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of
western Canada. My family and I live in a modest plank house which was built from
cedar trees since we have a lot of them in this region. It is a beautiful area with its
extensive forests and its milelong beaches. It’s no wonder that my ancestors have
lived here for thousands of years in connection with the land, the ocean and the
animals. What is it like where you live? Is there a lot of nature and wildlife near your
home?

My people are called Haida and we are a tribe of First Nations people. Did you know
that we were one of the first people to erect totem poles? In case you don’t know, a
totem pole is a log carved with animals that symbolise guardian spirits that watch
people. Haida people believe in spirits and there is only one person who can talk to
them, the shaman. When we have religious ceremonies the shaman often wears a
mask, bear skin robes and different charms around their neck. Do you practice a
religion or any special traditions?

There are about 500 of us and though most Haida people speak English in their day
to day life some still use our native language called Haida. Nowadays not many
people speak the language which is a terrible shame because it is a part of our
culture that is disappearing. Studies have even shown that people who no longer
speak their own language have a higher depression rate than other people. What
languages do you speak and what do they mean to you?

In the past we would fish and hunt for bears, elks and seals for survival but now we
can go to the store and buy whatever we need, though it isn’t cheap. The adults who
live here make a living in many different ways. Some work in fishing, others in
forestry and some people are artists, carving beautiful sculptures or totems. How
does your family get by?

Young people here spend their spare time as any other youth. We play with each
other, go to school and help out around the house. Many Haida children like to go
hunting and fishing with their parents as well. There are issues here though. Many
First Nations youth struggle with mental health and the suicide rate for First Nation
and Inuit youth is higher than in the rest of the Canadian population. This is just one
of many examples of how the way that we were treated in the past has had lasting
consequences for our people. What is life like for young people where you live?

I look forward to reading your reply,

Tek’aronhia’kanere