Yahgu ‘laanaas Pole Raising (Crane used only to steady pole) | PC: Mary Helmer

Last month’s Yahgu ‘laanaas Pole Raising at the Tluu Xaadaa Naay Longhouse, and the ceremonies that followed, were a stirring reminder that life is changing for many of us. What was once lost is coming back, thanks to the efforts of artists like Kihlyaadaa Christian White and his family who teamed up to make the day possible.

“It’s been an amazing experience for our family, working together,” Christian told me in the days preceding the big day when I met with him and his wife iihl kaa jaad kiinas Candace Weir. They made the point that reconnection to one another as Indigenous people is imperative to our survival, and that the time to embrace this fact is now. The pole raising and the events around it were just one way for the healing to begin.

Christian has always wanted to have a house frontal pole for the longhouse. The log was brought to Tluu Xaadaa Naay on February 29,2020. With the pandemic, Christian realized it would have to be his family that would carve the pole. Luckily his family is full of gifted artists. There are many who helped carve: Derek, Todd, Eugene (Gino), Derek Dudley, Daisy, Neil and Douglas. It’s safe to say the whole family pitched in, and if I listed them all it would likely fill a couple of pages.

When asked what needed to be done, their six-year-old niece Serena shyly said, “We need to show respect, make gifts, work hard, move stuff and learn.” The ambiance in the carving shed that day was so relaxed; the smell of cedar and paint was enchanting. Todd was talking softly to some visitors, Daisy and Douglas were busy painting. Such talent! Candace told me even her coworkers at Tahaygen contributed to the important occasion.

Under bright sunny skies on Friday, August 19^th, the pole, which Christian referred to as “Inspirational,” was raised as per tradition entirely by human hands and ropes, with a commander directing things from the roof of the longhouse, and captains on each of the directional ropes. Masses of people rushed to the back of the longhouse, while some grabbed the guiding ropes in front.

The large crowd bearing witness to this momentous event included people from all over Haida Gwaii as well as visitors from all along the BC Coast including Bella Bella, Vancouver and Vancouver Island. Guests even came from as far as Ottawa, Alaska, Seattle, Australia, and Florida.

Hundreds of cars parked up and down the streets of Gaw Tlagée Old Massett and parts of the highway made for an extraordinary sight. The streets looked like parking lots.

Everyone looked beautiful. The various forms of regalia spoke of Haida Gwaii’s fantastic artists. From ravens tail to carved silver, wood, argillite - it was all top notch.

Many of us were just standing mesmerized by the sight of a 63 ½-foot pole (10 feet in the ground) slowly rising. As I was videotaping, I panned out and did a slow sweep of the people around me. I saw many tears, only to realize I was crying as well. The cheering and singing at the end was the best sound I’ve heard in a very long time. The mood was electric. One lady told me her daughter met her cousins for the first time. So many people who’d been away for ages made the voyage here. Candace said her daughter Pamela who lives in Florida with her husband hadn’t been here for three years.

When Candace shouted “We are all Haida! We are still here!” those around us exploded in a deafening cheer of victory and pride. The ancestors heard us all.

The ceremonies in the Old Massett Hall after the raising were spectacular! New songs, dances and masks were shared by Tluu Xaadaa Naay. Haida names were given out, and adoptions performed. I think one of my favorite things about the shows of culture at these events are the faces of people experiencing them for the first time. The fancy cameras come out, and a lady beside me said, “I have goosebumps!” We all had goosebumps when the huge Raven mask was revealed! Carved by Christian White and Apprentices, it stretched higher than the basketball hoops, the mask was like nothing I’d ever seen. The Yaahl Sgaanuwee Iiwaans Giant Supernatural Raven, was culturally shared by Gwaliga Hart, I couldn’t imagine how heavy it was to dance in, but there he was prancing around so light-footed!

There was also Hlk’yaan K’uust’an frog leaper who jumped so high and twisted on the way down. Guustlas Rorick, the frogman performer, looked us over and checked things out, while we the onlookers did the same.

Robert Davidson, the man acknowledged for erecting the first longhouse pole in 1969, shared a significant reminder.

He recalled that for the pole raising ceremony back then they had no masks - so they used paper bags. That silenced the hall, as everyone understood the implications of his statement. He was talking about the loss of culture, the interruption of the freedom of our Elders to pass on language and traditions.

With every new pole raising, we are putting that time behind us.