Colonial police action against the people of Haida Gwaii



Various Imperial and colonial actions against Haida Gwaii Authorities have been undertaken since the 19th century. The indigenous peoples of Haida Gwaii often reacted violently to European and American ships which trespassed in their waters and lands. From the 18th to 19th centuries, various skirmishes took place between Haida authorities and European and American merchantmen and warships. Canadian settlers did not arrive on Haida Gwaii islands until 1900, and many Canadian colonial police actions attempted to assault the Haida Gwaii authorities and citizens. The indigenous Haida population was decimated by diseases such as smallpox which were introduced accidentally by way of Fort Victoria. The presence of foreign diseases, to which the Haida had no immunity, along with some colonial hostility, meant that the numbers of Haida citizens was reduced from tens of thousands to 588 by 1915. This erosion of Haida cultural institutions was essential to open the way for subsequent British and Canadian incursions and jurisdictional claims.

Haida Gwaii
An archipelago of some 150 islands located inside the territorial waters of Canada and comprising the largest land mass of the territories of the Haida Indigenous Peoples. These territories also extend up into what is now known as the Alaskan panhandle.

Cumshewa Haida
Cumshewa is an important hereditary leader of the Haida people of Haida Gwaii on the North Coast of British Columbia, Canada. As of December 2, 2021 Gitkinjuaas Ronald Wilson of St'awaas X̲aaydaG̲aay holds authority over this title. His name is believed to be of either Kwak'wala or Heiltsuk (Bella Bella) origin, meaning "rich at the mouth of the river". He is mentioned by Captain George Dixon who traded with him in 1787. In 1794 Cumshewa and his warriors killed the crew of the American vessel Resolution. Cumshewa is commemorated on the map of the archipelago by Cumshewa Inlet, Cumshewa Mountain, Cumshewa Head (a point), Cumshewa Island, the Cumshewa Rocks and the modern First Nations locality of Cumshewa. In Haida language the name Gitkinjuaas is shared with the easternmost mountain on the north shore at the mouth of Cumshewa Inlet. The name translates "Mountain Person of High Standing"

Kaigani Haida
The Kaigani Haida live in Haida territories lying north of the Canadian and US border which cuts through the Dixon Entrance on Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska, United States. This region is part of the historical territories of the Haida Nation.

Kunghit Haida
The people of SG̱ang Gwaay llnagaay are sometimes referred to as the Kunghit Haida, now known as Ninstints. The Kunghit Haida occupied the southern portion of the archipelago of Haida Gwaii, with territory stretching from Lyell Island to the farthest southern tip of the archipelago. They had approximately two dozen permanent villages, as well as numerous other smaller seasonal settlements located near major resource areas. SG̱ang Gwaay Llanagaay was the location of several notable episodes in the early history of European contact and trade with the Haida. At the outset of the maritime fur trade, the village was visited in 1787 by George Dixon, who noted the Haidas who met them at sea were eager to trade with sea otter fur. This marked the initially amicable trade relations, where SG̱ang Gwaay Llanagaay was visited once again in 1788 by Charles Duncan, and twice in 1789 – first by Robert Gray then by his partner John Kendrick later that year, at which point the trade relationship turned hostile.

Skidegate Haida
Skidegate is a Haida community in Haida Gwaii (formerly the Queen Charlotte Islands) in British Columbia, Canada. It is located on the southeast coast of Graham Island some 30 miles off the mainland coast of Canada.

Masset Haida
Haida historian Henry Geddes shares that the name Masset was a gift exchange between Captain and Crew of a Spanish ship rescued and repaired by the leadership of the Haida villages which now comprise the village of Masset and Old Massett Village reserve. This event preceded the arrival of British vessels.

Captain Douglas, on his second visit from Nootka Sound aboard the Iphigenia on June 19, 1789, named the bay leading to the inlet McIntyre's Bay. This name was used on the charts of Dixon and Meares. The American traders called the inlet, Hancock's River as shown in Ingraham's chart of 1792 after the American brig Hancock. In 1853 H.N. Knox of the Royal Navy, mate on HMS Virago, did a sketch survey of the harbour when the name Masset was adopted by the British. A survey was made in 1907 by Captain Learmouth on HMS Egeria. Masset is a contemporary conglomerate of four historically separate communities: Gad Gaayiwaas, Iit'aaw, Tsajughl, and Kaayang.

Incidents of Haida and foreign naval conflicts
A list of some of the incidents of violence between the Haida and European adventurers took place with Europeans following the first initial peaceful encounters between Haida and Spanish. There are no notes of any conflict between Spanish and Haida.