“Provide Living Plants for Study”: The Value of Ethnobotanical Gardens and Planning the

• Main Author: Haida Gwaii
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2005
• Subjects: Queen Charlotte; Skidegate; haida
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.563.1118; http://www.davidsonia.org/files/dav16_ethnobot_gardens.pdf

In June 2001, six magnificent totem poles representing six ancient villages of the Haida now living at Skidegate, carved by Haida Master Carvers and their assistants, were raised at the site of Qay’llnagaay (“Sea-Lion Town”) on Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands) (Figure 1). These poles represent the Iitllgaay (Hereditary Chiefs) who have potlatched their names and positions, excluding SGang Gwaay (see back cover). The pole-raising, including feasting and celebration by thousands of people over several days, was the first phase in the realization of a 40-year-old dream for the Haida: the development of the Qay’llnagaay Heritage Centre and Lodge as a means of preserving and sharing their history, lives and aspirations with children, community members and visitors to Haida Gwaii. The Centre, now (as of 2005) well on its way to completion, incorporates many different elements, including a Welcome Centre, a Teaching Centre, Program Management Centre, Haida Gwaii Museum, Canoe House, restaurant and eventually a hotel (lodge). The surrounding landscape of Qay’llnagaay is seen as integral to the Centre’s character and role. It presents a unique opportunity to develop a garden to complement the architecture and to serve as yet another venue for teaching about Haida culture and environment, and for restoring and renewing the Haida’s rich heritage of botanical knowledge (see Turner 2004).The garden, as yet to be named, will be an ethnobotanical garden—a garden that specifically highlights culturally