Chantal was born and raised on her homelands of Haida Gwaii until she was eight years old and has returned home almost every other year. Four years ago and this past summer, Chantal and her partner Gabriel Swift had the opportunity to return to Haida Gwaii with Kinship Rising to engage with community members using multimedia. During their time there, they explored the connections that community members held with the land, water, culture, and the natural environment and explored how they are all inextricably connected.
In August 2022, Chantal Adams and Gabriel Swift had the opportunity to capture the Tluu Xaada Naay totem pole raising and potlatch in Masset, Haida Gwaii. A moment that has been about eight years in the making. This is a story of the current generation of Haida people who are learning, connecting, teaching, and celebrating. This is a story of not giving up, but continuing the path forward. Continuing a journey that many of our ancestors were not able to.
In 1876 the government enacted the Indian Act as an attempt to assimilate Indigenous peoples across Canada into ‘western’ society. Shortly after, the government went on to outlaw the primary economic system and social fabric of coastal societies (known as ‘the potlatch ban’) which occurred from 1884-1951. The potlatch ban included the banning of raising totem poles and publicly displaying our cultures.
Christian White and Candace Weir-White, a husband and wife duo, are continuing to learn from other nations who have held on to the ceremonial aspects of their potlatches. Christian and Candace both strive to continue practicing and sharing their learnings with their own community and nation.
Christian White recalls the moment he first saw the monumental cedar, the tree that the 62 foot pole was eventually carved from, stating, “it was a monument to the Creator, really, the tree stood probably close to 150 feet tall, and it was wider than my arms . . . I put my mark on the tree, and left an offering.” This way of setting intentions, single select harvesting, and holding respect for the natural world, allows for the natural world to stay in balance and ensures a future for the generations to come. As his sister Lisa White stated, “if we don’t have those old growth trees to to build these beautiful totem poles or these beautiful canoes, continue our traditions I don’t really know what that will do for the spirit of our community or the spirit of our people.”
