Kelly Date June 8, 2010

Hi all! I'm glad I held off blogging again until after I got back from Skedans. It was a very amazing day and a group of eight spent about six hours in a boat in and around Louise Island, stopping at several places along the way. Skendans, was of course the main stop of interest and we spent about two hours there sitting on the beach eating lunch and touring around the old village site to view the remaining totem poles of the Tanu Haida.

It started out to be a cold, windy, and raining day, however by about 10:30 or 11:00 it started to clear up and we enjoyed a very sunny and warm day. Ha, I have the red cheeks to prove it. Of course, I sat right at the front

of the boat so I could get some good photos and I'm hoping they actually load today. It was a bit of a rough ride up there though so most of those

didn't turn out too well. Ha, but I was thrilled to spend the day with my face to the sun and the wind in my hair. Awesome!

One of the Haida Watchmen (a woman) greeted us at Skedans and we all signed in so they can keep track of the number of visitors. The Watchmen have guarded these old villages sites sin

ce the early 1970's as people were removing things from the villages. At times, people used chain saws to remove portions of the poles and drug them away behind their boats. So, they have made it an offical program now where Haida people take training and stay at one of about seven sites for anywhere from one to two months at a time.

The time spent wandering around these ancient poles was mesmerizing. I was glad that I had read the book about the poles at Skedans previously so I knew a little bit of what they were talking about already. For the most part, I hung back so I could take photographs and film some of the goings on. There were several

large groups of poles which sit all helter-skelter in the village with small trees growing out of them. This happened as some of the poles had burial boxes on, or inside of the them and this is where the more recent rot and growth stems from. The one pole I have here is a close up of the face, but you can see all the small trees and bushes that have sprouted up from the front of the pole.

It was a glorious day and I'm so glad the weather turned out. Moresby Island Explorers did a great job of ferrying us around and helping make the day memorable. I was so tired though by the time we got back I could barely keep my eyes open - in fact I tottered over onto the should of the poor lady sitting next to me a couple of times. Ha, my humble apologies. As per usual, I couldn't sleep the night before as I was so excited about the trip.

I hope you enjoy the photos I've included. I had great fun just taking them. Enjoy. Oh, its my birthday on Friday and we're going out - a beach party in front of the Haida Heritage Centre where I'm working and smores. Woo Woo. I always wondered where I'd turn 50 and now I know. Couldn't think of a better place. Great day, Kelly

Artist, Marcel Russ

Hello. I’ve been very busy this week, but don’t feel like I’ve accomplished much. Working at the Kaay ‘Llnagaay Haida Heritage Centre is a lot of fun, but it does seem to take a lot of time to get things done. Everything I do seems to depend on someone else doing their bit, which holds things up. Ha, I’m not used to working for government organizations anymore lol.

Regardless, it’s a great place to work though and I really do enjoy it. The people are wonderful and you get to meet people from around the world. Just today, I met an elderly couple from Burnaby, BC and yesterday ladies from New Zealand and Australia; last week it was a fellow from England looking to do some kayaking in the area. You never know who you’ll meet, which makes it fun.

I've included several photos today of Marcelle Russ, who is the local carver I mentioned last week. I wanted to include a few more pictures to give you some idea of the area of the Haida Heritage Centre where carvers can come to work. It is quite interesting to watch them and I enjoyed hanging out, if only for a while. I've been waiting for them to come back and finish but I've not seen then again. Will have to keep you posted on the final outcome if I'm fortunate enough to be here at

the right time. Note: I'll try to add the photos a bit later. The system is not being agreeable lately. (The photo to left is actually from a Bill Reid pole carving.)

I’m looking forward to my trip down to Skedans next week on Louise Island. I’m going by boat with Morseby Island Explorers who have been outfitting in this area for some time. Should be fun and I’m hoping to see some whales. I’ve not seen any quite yet, which has been a little disappointing.

Over the weekend I’ll just be working and nothing much to report so will leave off blogging this coming Sunday. I’ll post another blog on Wednesday to tell you how the big adventure goes and will have a few great pictures to share with you for sure.

Have a great day,

Kelly

Kelly Date June 1, 2010

SIing Gaay Laa,

I must apologize for again being late with posting my blog. Ha, I have no excuses – just totally forgot to get it done. I’ve been busy working and this weekend there was a science fair at the Heritage Centre. There were a number of school and other organizations represented there and even a group from Vancouver Island University.

Sunday and Monday were spent working, but today was a lot of fun as I was chatting with one of the carvers in the canoe shed. He was commissioned by a rich gentleman from England to carve a totem pole for him. The carver is Marcelle Russ and he is of course Haida and a friendly soul who was pleased at my interest.

He is an amazing carver and the shapes and figures on the pole are wonderful. He has included the frog and a killer whale and other storey figures. I am partial to the frog and the Haida Man from the centre of the totem. I’ve included this photo as he is not quite finished yet, but I like that fact that the carving itself is quite rough looking still.

Other than that I’ve been trying again to set up my trip to Skeedans and another trip to South Moresby. There are so many wonderful places to visit and I truly hope I can get as much time in exploring as humanly possible between now and when I return to Nanaimo.

Hope you all have a great day,

Blog later, Kelly