Old Massett Village Council
Logo used by Old Massett Village Council | |
Traditional territory of the Haida people | |
| People | Haida |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Old Massett |
| Province | British Columbia |
| Land[1] | |
| Main reserve | Masset 1 |
| Other reserve(s) | |
| Land area | 9.7 km2 |
| Population (2025)[1] | |
| On reserve | 703 |
| On other land | 65 |
| Off reserve | 2547 |
| Total population | 3315 |
| Government[1] | |
| Chief | Donald Edgars |
| Council | 2023–26
|
| Tribal Council[1] | |
| Council of the Haida Nation | |
| Website | |
| oldmassettvillagecouncil | |
Old Massett Village Council (OMVC; Haida: G̱aw X̱aadée Council Née[2]) is a band government of the Haida people, located in Old Massett, on Haida Gwaii. Old Massett Village Council is one of two Canadian band governments for the Haida Nation, the other being Skidegate Band Council.[1] The main governing body of the Haida people is the Council of the Haida Nation, and as such the two band councils function as village governments.[3]
The band was formed in the late 19th century through the consolidation of Haida communities who spoke X̱aad Kíl, the northern dialect of the Haida language.
As of May 2025, the band has 3,315 registered members, 703 of whom live on reserve. It has 27 reserves, with a total area of 9.7 square kilometres (2,400 acres). The band is governed by an elected band council, consisting of one Chief and seven councillors, with elections held every three years.
History
The Haida people are an Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest whose traditional territory encompasses Haida Gwaii, an archipelago of islands off the northwest coast of the Canadian province of British Columbia, and parts of southeastern Alaska. Haida of Old Massett are from communities which spoke X̱aad Kíl, the northern dialect of the Haida language.[4] The northern Haida inhabited the northern half of Graham Island, including other smaller islands like Langara and Hippa Islands. Their major villages included Kung (Haida: Ḵang), Hiellen (Haida: Hl'yaalan 'Llngée), Dadens (Haida: Daadans), Kiusta (Haida: K’yuusda), and Yan (Haida: Yáan 'Llngée).[5][6]
Old Massett was created in the mid 19th century by the consolidation of many northern Haida villages in the wake of the smallpox epidemic of 1862. It was first the location of a Hudson's Bay Company post in 1850.[7] In 1876, it became an Anglican mission, led by Rev. William H. Collison of the Church Missionary Society. That same year, the Haida were defined as Indians under the newly introduced Indian Act.[8] In 1882, the Massett Band was allotted sixteen reserves, which amounted to 752.4 hectares (1,859 acres), by reserve commissioner Peter O'Reilly.[9]
In 1886, Massett was part of the North West Coast Indian Agency, which was headquartered in Metlakatla.[10] In 1910, the North West Coast Agency was subdivided, and Massett and Skidegate became part of the Queen Charlotte Indian Agency.[11] This new agency introduced a full-time Indian agent who lived in Old Massett, subjecting the Haida to close government supervision for the first time.[12] The band was governed by the Indian agent, with the support of the band council.[13] The band council was formed in 1910, and consisted of seven elected community members, most of whom were graduates of the former Anglican Industrial school in Metlakatla.[14]
In 1913, band members provided testimony to the McKenna–McBride Commission, rejecting the imposition of reserves and demanding allotments that were equal to those given to other First Nations in the province.[15] The Commission resulted in the allotment of five additional reserves.[9]
In 1966, the Queen Charlotte Agency was combined with the Naas Agency, which was based in Prince Rupert, ending the close oversight by an Indian Agent which had been in place since 1910.[12] Eight years later, in 1974, the Council of the Haida Nation was formed to collectively represent Canadian Haida, with the specific mandate of settling land claims on Haida Gwaii.[16] The band councils would maintain governing powers over social and economic development, education, and healthcare. The economic development included the establishment of the Yakoun River Hatchery in partnership with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada in 1978, which sought to rebuild the salmon population of the Yakoun River.[17]
Demographics
Like other First Nation band governments, OMVC's registered population includes only status Indians as defined in the Indian Act, who are registered with the band. It therefore does not include individuals who are descended from the band, but have lost their status or are registered with a different band.[18]
As of May 2025, Old Massett Village Council had 3,315 registered members. 703 members lived on reserve and 2,612 lived off reserve.[1] The number of band members has been increasing from the historic low of 350 members in 1915.[19]
Though the total band membership has been increasing, the population on the two inhabited reserves, Masset 1 and Tlaa Gaa Aawtlaas 28, has been decreasing, with a 19.6% decrease between 2006 and 2016.[20]
| 2021 | 2016 | 2011 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 475 (-14.4% from 2016) | 555 (-9.6% from 2011) | 614 (-11.5% from 2006) |
| Land area | 3.16 km2 (1.22 sq mi) | 3.21 km2 (1.24 sq mi) | 3.21 km2 (1.24 sq mi) |
| Population density | 150.4/km2 (390/sq mi) | 173.1/km2 (448/sq mi) | 191.5/km2 (496/sq mi) |
| Median age | 44.8 (M: 47.2, F: 40.4) | 42.4 (M: 43.2, F: 41.5) | 40.4 (M: 41.2, F: 47.7) |
| Private dwellings | 241 (total) 195 (occupied) | 273 (total) 220 (occupied) | 248 (total) 241 (occupied) |
| Median household income | $51,200 | $30,208 |
Governance
The band council comprises eight members, with one chief councillor and seven council members. Elections are held every three years.[24] The 2023–2026 council is:[25]
- Donald Edgars (Chief Councillor)
- Lisa Bell
- Cecil Brown
- Robert Brown
- Benjamin Edgars
- Ashley Jacobson
- Brodie Swanson
- Lisa White
The primary governing body for the Haida people in Canada is the Council of the Haida Nation (CHN). Old Massett Village Council, alongside Skidegate Band Council, functions as a village government, while the CHN functions as a national government. OMVC is therefore responsible for membership, social development, education and healthcare.[3]
Economic Development
In 2014, Old Massett Village Council completed construction of the Hiellen Longhouse Village, a series of 7 cabins located on Hiellen Indian Reserve No. 2, in Naikoon Provincial Park.[26]
Education
Old Massett Village Council is responsible for the administration of Chief Matthews School (Haida: Chief Matthews Sk’adáa Née[2]), a K-4 elementary school, which provides instruction in Haida.[27] The school was first opened in 1994, and is named after longtime Chief Councillor and advocate for education Chief William Matthews.[28]
In 2018, the band council established X̱aad Kíl Née (the Haida Language Office), to provide instruction and resources for learning X̱aad Kíl, the northern dialect of the Haida language.[29]
Geography
Old Massett Village Council has 27 reserves, whose combined total area is 9.7 square kilometres (2,400 acres), with the main reserve being Masset 1. The majority of the reserves are located on Graham Island (Haida: X̲aaydaɢ̲a Gwaay.yaay Iinaɢ̲waay),[30] with 4 located on the nearby Langara Island (Haida: K’iis Gwaay).[31] Reserves numbered 1-16 were part of the initial allotment by reserve commissioner Peter O'Reilly in 1882. Numbers 17-21 were allotted by Royal Commission in 1916.[9]
The band is classified as a Zone 4, Sub-zone 1 geographic zone by CIRNAC, meaning that there is no year-round road access, leading to a higher coast of transportation, and that they are between 50 km and 160 km from the nearest service centre (Prince Rupert).[32]
| Reserve | Haida name | Location | Area | Coordinates | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massett 1 | Haida: G̱aw Tlagée | East shore of Masset Inlet below its entry point, north coast of Graham Island. | 299.5 ha (740 acres) | 54°02′00″N 132°10′00″W / 54.0333°N 132.1667°W | [33] |
| Hiellen 2 | Haida: Hl'yaalan 'Llngée, lit. 'flat-slope town' | At mouth of Hiellen River, south of Taaw Tldáaw, northeast coast of Graham Island. Location of Hiellen. | 27.4 ha (68 acres) | 54°04′22″N 131°47′16″W / 54.0728°N 131.7878°W | [34][26][2] |
| Yagan 3 | Haida: Yaagun Kún ‘Llngée | At Yakan Point, west of Taaw Tldáaw, on McIntyre Bay, north coast of Graham Island. | 34.8 ha (86 acres) | 54°04′01″N 131°49′19″W / 54.06689°N 131.82203°W | [35][2] |
| Lanas 4 | At the mouth of the Yakoun River, Yakoun Bay, southeast shore of Masset Inlet, central Graham Island. | 78 ha (190 acres) | 53°39′11″N 132°13′03″W / 53.65296°N 132.21739°W | [36] | |
| Satunquin 5 | Haida: Saahldangkun | At Strathdang Kwun, point on west side of Yakoun Bay of Masset Inlet, Graham Island. | 3.6 ha (8.9 acres) | 53°40′11″N 132°13′25″W / 53.6697°N 132.2236°W | [37][38] |
| Ain 6 | Haida: Áayan 'Llngée | At mouth of the Ain River, north shore of Masset Inlet, Graham Island. | 66.4 ha (164 acres) | 53°44′40″N 132°25′21″W / 53.74432°N 132.42259°W | [39][2] |
| Yan 7 | Haida: Yaagun Kún ‘Llngée, lit. 'directly opposite a ledge' | West side of entrance to Masset Inlet, Graham Island. | 106.8 ha (264 acres) | 54°03′49″N 132°14′34″W / 54.0636°N 132.2428°W | [40][41][38] |
| Meagwan 8 | At Wiah Point, north coast of Graham Island. | 19.8 ha (49 acres) | 54°06′35″N 132°18′43″W / 54.1097097°N 132.3119991°W | [42] | |
| Kose 9 | Left bank of the Naden River, four miles south of the mouth of Naden Harbour, Graham Island. | 3.6 ha (8.9 acres) | 53°54′23″N 132°42′41″W / 53.9064°N 132.7114°W | [43] | |
| Naden 10 | At mouth of Standly Creek, Naden Harbour, Graham Island. | 2.6 ha (6.4 acres) | 53°56′50″N 132°40′49″W / 53.9473°N 132.68017°W | [44] | |
| Kung 11 | Haida: Ḵang, lit. 'dream town' | West side of Alexandra Narrows, which connects Naden Harbour and Virago Sound. Location of Ḵang. | 28.7 ha (71 acres) | 54°03′02″N 132°34′34″W / 54.05067°N 132.57614°W | [45][38][46] |
| Daningay 12 | West side of Virago Sound, north coast of Graham Island. | 8.5 hectares (21 acres) | 54°05′04″N 132°34′47″W / 54.08447°N 132.57983°W | [47] | |
| Yatze 13 | Haida: Yaats', lit. 'Knife Village' | Southeast of Klashwun Point, west of Virago Sound, north coast of Graham Island. | 18.2 ha (45 acres) | 54°08′41″N 132°39′46″W / 54.14464°N 132.66274°W | [48][46] |
| Jalun 14 | Northwest of Nankivell Point, mouth of Jalun River, northwest coast of Graham Island. | 7.1 ha (18 acres) | 54°07′43″N 132°47′59″W / 54.1286°N 132.79973°W | [49] | |
| Kioosta 15 | Haida: Yaagun Kún ‘Llngée, lit. 'where the tail comes out' | South shore of Parry Passage, northwest tip of Graham Island. Site of Kiusta. | 40.9 ha (101 acres) | 54°10′44″N 133°01′45″W / 54.17881°N 133.02928°W | [50][51][2] |
| Tatense 16 | Haida: Daadans | Southwest tip of Langara Island. Location of Dadens. | 6.5 ha (16 acres) | 54°11′19″N 132°59′02″W / 54.18871°N 132.98397°W | [52] |
| Susk 17 | At Peril Bay east of Frederick Island, west coast of Graham Island. | 63.1 ha (156 acres) | 53°55′58″N 133°07′07″W / 53.9329°N 133.11851°W | [53] | |
| Saouchten 18 | Rooney Point, west side of Masset Harbour, Graham Island. | 11.4 ha (28 acres) | 54°00′53″N 132°11′02″W / 54.01473°N 132.18381°W | [54] | |
| Egeria Bay 19 | Haida: Ts'aahl | On Egeria Bay, east side of Langara Island. | 10.1 ha (25 acres) | 54°13′06″N 132°59′22″W / 54.2183°N 132.9894°W | [55][38] |
| Cohoe Point 20 | Haida: Yaa Stl'ang, lit. 'town straight back [in the inlet]' | On Dibrell Bay, east coast of Langara Island. | 8.5 ha (21 acres) | 54°13′53″N 132°58′35″W / 54.23147°N 132.9765°W | [56] |
| Yasitkun 21 | Northwest coast of Langara Island. | 20.2 ha (50 acres) | 54°15′02″N 133°03′27″W / 54.25056°N 133.05744°W | [57] | |
| Guoyskun 22 | At Rhodeas Point, west coast of Langara Island. | 20.2 ha (50 acres) | 54°13′11″N 133°01′56″W / 54.2198°N 133.03216°W | [58] | |
| Naden 23 | Haida: K'uu'laanas | At mouth of Standly Creek, Naden Harbour, north shore of Graham Island. Location of K'uu'laanas. | 2.6 ha (6.4 acres) | 53°58′25″N 132°41′24″W / 53.9736°N 132.69°W | [59] |
| Owun 24 | At the mouth of the Awun River, Awun Bay, south shore of Massett Inlet, Graham Island. | 3 ha (7.4 acres) | 53°39′14″N 132°31′23″W / 53.6539°N 132.5231°W | [60] | |
| Mammin River 25 | Haida: Maaman 'Llngée | At mouth of the Mamin River on Mammin Bay, Masset Inlet, Graham Island. | 2.5 ha (6.2 acres) | 53°37′25″N 132°18′21″W / 53.62357°N 132.30577°W | [61][38][2] |
| Tiahn 27 | Haida: Tii.aan | At Tian Bay, west shore of Graham Island. | 2.3 ha (5.7 acres) | 53°46′23″N 133°04′49″W / 53.77317°N 133.0804°W | [62][38] |
| Tlaa Gaa Aawtlaas 28 | Haida: Tlaga G̱áwtlaas, lit. 'New Town' | Just south of Massett on east side of Masset Sound between Camp and Skaga Points, Graham Island. | 63.7 ha (157 acres) | 53°59′40″N 132°08′05″W / 53.9944°N 132.1347°W | [63][38] |
See also
References
Citations
- ^ a b c "Old Massett Village Council". First Nation Profiles. Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. March 18, 2025. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g Iitl’l kil hla gyaaging • Íitl’ kíl hl gyáandii Use our language: A Haida Language Pocketbook. Council of the Haida Nation. 2024. pp. 62–68. ISBN 978-1-7778131-0-9.
- ^ a b "Village Councils". Council of the Haida Nation. January 25, 2025. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
- ^ "Xaads Gyaahlaang – Our History". Old Massett Village Council. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
- ^ MacDonald, George F. "Masset - Haida Villages". The Haida: Children of the Eagle and Raven. Canadian Museum of History. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
- ^ Boelscher, Marianne (1988). The curtain within : Haida social and mythical discourse. Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press. p. 19. ISBN 0774803118. Retrieved April 23, 2025 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ Brink 1974, p. 27.
- ^ Stearns 1981, p. 3.
- ^ a b c Department of Mines and Resources (March 31, 1943). Schedule of Indian Reserves in the Dominion of Canada Part 2: Reserves in the Province of British Columbia Recompiled and Corrected up to March 31, 1943 (Report). Ottawa: Government of Canada. pp. 396–403. Retrieved December 24, 2024 – via Library and Archives Canada.
- ^ Caird 1996, pp. 78–79.
- ^ Caird 1996, p. 88.
- ^ a b Stearns 1981, p. 34.
- ^ Stearns 1981, p. 63.
- ^ Brink 1974, pp. 124–125.
- ^ "Indian Affairs 1913" (PDF). Haida Laas: Journal of the Haida Nation. Council of the Haida Nation: 4. September 1910. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
- ^ "History of the CHN". Council of the Haida Nation. May 28, 2025. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
- ^ "Salmon Enhancement Program". Old Massett Village Council. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
- ^ "Indian Status". Indigenous Foundations. University of British Columbia. 2009. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
- ^ Brink 1974, p. 109.
- ^ "Population Characteristics – Old Massett Village Council". First Nation Profiles. Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. March 18, 2025. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
- ^ "2021 Community Profiles". 2021 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. February 4, 2022.
- ^ "2016 Community Profiles". 2016 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. August 12, 2021.
- ^ "2011 Community Profiles". 2011 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. March 21, 2019.
- ^ Old Massett Village Council (2021). "Chief and Council Governance Manual" (PDF). Old Massett Village Council. p. 5. Retrieved January 27, 2025.
- ^ "Old Massett Village Council - Governance". First Nation Profiles. Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. November 14, 2008. Retrieved January 27, 2025.
- ^ a b "Old Massett Village Council: Transforming a Haida Village Site". Coast Funds. February 26, 2025. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
- ^ "Chief Matthews School". Old Massett Village Council. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
- ^ "Chief Matthews School celebrates 10th anniversary". Haida Gwaii Observer. October 13, 2004. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
- ^ "Xaad Kil Nee". Old Massett Village Council. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
- ^ "Fisheries Management Directions for G̲aw K̲áahlii Masset Inlet and X̲aana K̲aahlii Skidegate Inlet". Council of the Haida Nation. February 24, 2025. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
- ^ "DAY TWO: Sáng'áay Stang – K'yuusda to G̱aaw". Council of the Haida Nation. September 25, 2015. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
- ^ "Old Massett Village Council - Geography". First Nation Profiles. Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. March 18, 2025. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
- ^ "Masset 1". BC Geographical Names.
- ^ "Hiellen 2". BC Geographical Names.
- ^ "Yagan 3". BC Geographical Names.
- ^ "Lanas 4". BC Geographical Names.
- ^ "Satunquin Point 5". BC Geographical Names.
- ^ a b c d e f g Broadhead, John; Brown, Tyson; Lagace, Kostan (2011). Ocean & Way of Life (PDF) (Map). Council of the Haida Nation. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
- ^ "Ain 6". BC Geographical Names.
- ^ "Yan 7". BC Geographical Names.
- ^ "Yan - Northwest Coast Village Project". Bill Reid Center. Simon Fraser University. Archived from the original on November 2, 2015. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
- ^ "Meagwan 8". BC Geographical Names.
- ^ "Kose 9". BC Geographical Names.
- ^ "Naden 10". BC Geographical Names.
- ^ "Kung 11". BC Geographical Names.
- ^ a b MacDonald, George F. "Haida Villages - Kung". The Haida: Children of the Eagle and Raven. Canadian Museum of History. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
- ^ "Daningay 12". BC Geographical Names.
- ^ "Yatze 13". BC Geographical Names.
- ^ "Jalun 14". BC Geographical Names.
- ^ "Kioosta 15". BC Geographical Names.
- ^ "Kiusta - Northwest Coast Village Project". Bill Reid Centre. Simon Fraser University. Archived from the original on November 2, 2015. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
- ^ "Tatense 16". BC Geographical Names.
- ^ "Susk 17". BC Geographical Names.
- ^ "Saouchten 18". BC Geographical Names.
- ^ "Egeria Bay 19". BC Geographical Names.
- ^ "Cohoe Point 20". BC Geographical Names.
- ^ "Yasitkun 21". BC Geographical Names.
- ^ "Guoyskun 22". BC Geographical Names.
- ^ "Naden 23". BC Geographical Names.
- ^ "Owun 24". BC Geographical Names.
- ^ "Mammin River 25". BC Geographical Names.
- ^ "Tiahn 27". BC Geographical Names.
- ^ "Tlaa Gaa Aawtlaas 28". BC Geographical Names.
Bibliography
- Brink, J. H. van den (1974). The Haida Indians : cultural change mainly between 1876-1970. Leiden: Brill. ISBN 90 04 03991 0. OCLC 643603137. Retrieved January 25, 2025 – via Internet Archive.
- Caird, Paula (May 1996). Guide To Indian Bands and Agencies In British Columbia, 1875-1990 (Report). Ottawa: National Archives of Canada. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
- Stearns, Mary Lee (1981). Haida Culture in Custody: The Masset Band. Seattle: University of Washington Press. ISBN 978-0-295-95763-0. OCLC 63179945. Retrieved January 25, 2025 – via Internet Archive.