A History with Pandemics

During pre-contact times, tens of thousands of Haidas flourished on these Islands residing in villages throughout the archipelago. Through contact and trade with European settlers in the early and mid 1800s, several waves of diseases were brought to Haida Gwaii and decimated our population to less than five hundred people. As a nation, we’ve mourned the loss of our ancestors, and worked hard to maintain culture and connections to ways of life. COVID-19 has created immeasurable impacts that remind us of the devastation caused by previous epidemics. We hope that as guests to our home you can understand and be mindful of our people as we readjust to life and invite you back into our home. 

Photo: Haida Gwaii Museum

Photo: Haida Gwaii Museum