British Columbia s Haida Gwaii Archipelago

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1 British Columbia s Haida Gwaii Archipelago 9-days exploring the ecosystems, wildlife, & cultural heritage of one of the most spectacular places on the planet One of National Geographic s Top 20 Places to Visit in 2015! Discover Ecosystems, wildlife, and cultural heritage of Gwaii Haanas National Park Encounter Puffins, albatrosses, sunfish, jellyfish, orcas and fin whales Learn About the rich cultural heritage of the indigenous Haida Nation

2 Haida Gwaii Archipelago Islands at the Edge Haida Gwaii ( Islands of the People in the Haida language) is a remote island archipelago located approximately 100 km off the northwest coast of British Columbia. The Galapagos of the North is a world where giant spruce and cedar trees tower over salmon-rich streams, and kelp forests connect the land to the sea. An ecological hotspot, the unparalleled diversity of marine life here includes everything from puffins to albatrosses, sunfish to jellyfish, and killer whales to blue whales. Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, National Marine Conservation Area, and Haida Heritage Site (or simply Gwaii Haanas ) protects the ecological and cultural treasures of this globally significant region from sea floor to mountain top. 2

3 Our 9-day expedition through Gwaii Haanas is dedicated to learning about the ecosystems and wildlife of the archipelago, while exploring the cultural heritage of the Haida people who have lived here for more than 10,000 years. Throughout this expedition we ll explore old-growth forests, white-sand beaches, rocky shores, ancient and modern cultural sites, and encounter the stunning wildlife found here. Gwaii Haanas protects and informs us how the Haida have thrived here in concert with the diverse ecosystems of this island archipelago for millenia. Masset BRITISH COLUMBIA 9-days / 8-nights Tlell VANCOUVER 2015 departures: Jun 17, 25, Jul 3, 11, 19, 27 Price per person: $5200 CAD GRAHAM ISLAND Departs from / Returns to: Sandspit Queen Charlotte Skidgate Sandspit What s Included? Land tour including the Haida Heritage Centre, float plane flight over Gwaii Haanas, all meals, accommodation, transportation, user fees, and use of onboard gear and resources including rubber boots. What s not included? 5% GST, travel and accommodation before and after the expedition, gratuities, any personal expenses incurred due to weather, logistical delays, delayed departures of chartered aircraft, taxis, ferries. Moresby Camp K uuna Llnagaay (Skedans) T aanuu Linagaay (Tanu) Hlk yah GawGa (Windy Bay) Gandll K in Gwaay-yaay (Hotspring Island) GWAII HAANAS NATIONAL PARK RESERVE Rose Harbour SGang Gwaay (Anthony Island) Cape St. James 3

4 Sample Itinerary: British Columbia s Haida Gwaii Archipelago We structure our Haida Gwaii expeditions as one-way voyages between the northern and southern portions of the park, rather than return trips. By doing so we are able to reduce our travel time and spend more time exploring and sailing during each expedition. A distinct feature of all our expeditions is that we have no fixed itineraries. Instead, our days structured by the winds, tides, and wildlife we encounter, and the interests and expertise of our guests and crew members. Please note that the following sample itinerary describes a south-bound expedition. 1 I never dreamt of the beauty we would find beneath the waters. It was such a gift to see it and have someone explain it all to us. I loved learning about the ocean, the Haida, and experience first hand what it is like to be one with nature. Judi Trotter, Outer Shores Traveller 2 Our expedition begins upon arrival at the Sandspit Airport where you ll be met by an Outer Shores Crew member and our ground transportation. With our group assembled we ll depart for the Alliford Bay ferry terminal and cross the short distance to Skidegate Landing. Tonight we ll enjoy an authentic Haida dinner and overnight accommodation at the Haida House situated in Tlell. This morning after breakfast and a beach walk, we ll travel to the Haida Heritage Centre at Kay Llnagaay. Here we will see and learn about the language, traditions, beliefs, and artistic expressions of the Haida culture, setting the stage for our journey through Gwaii Haanas. This afternoon, we ll travel via ferry and passenger van to Moresby Camp, where we ll join the schooner Passing Cloud. After meeting the crew and settling into your accommodations and attending a comprehensive safety briefing, we cast off our lines and set sail for the ancient village of K uuna Llnagaay (Skedans) where we take a guided tour of the ancient Haida village. Later in the afternoon, we head back aboard Passing Cloud and travel towards Anna Inlet, where we set anchor for the evening. 4

5 3 4 Today we travel towards the ancient villages of T aanuu Llnagaay (Tanu) and Hlk yah GaawGa (Windy Bay) to walk through an old-growth forest filled with massive cedar and spruce trees. We follow that up with a visit to a Haida Watchmen s cabin to learn the story of the Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site. We cap off our day by heading back to our floating home and enjoying an evening sail. Make sure to keep a sharp lookout for orca, which are frequent visitors to the area. Today, weather permitting, we hope to sail a few miles from shore to reach the pelagic zone. This area is the perfect place to search for marine wildlife, such as pelagic seabirds, sharks, giant ocean sunfish, Pacific white-sided dolphins, and humpback whales. In the afternoon we make our way closer to shore to explore a small river system, and examine the remnants of wood-stake fish weirs (traps) dating from more than a thousand years ago. 6 7 Today we visit Cape St. James (weather permitting), at the southernmost extremity of the Haida Gwaii Archipelago. With ocean currents meeting from the east and west, this area is alive with marine life, including tufted and horned puffins, sea lions, and orcas on the hunt for their next meal. This region is also home to one of our favourite white-sand beaches on the BC coast, great for an afternoon of exploring, relaxing, and strolling barefoot along the shore. We kick-off our day scouring the shoreline for intertidal archaeological features, including fish traps and clam gardens, and contemplate the interconnectedness of natural ecosystems and Haida subsistence and beliefs. Later, we have the chance to tour a sea lion rookery, learning more about these formidable creatures and their ecology and conservation. We cap off the day by sailing to Louscoone Inlet to anchor for the night. 5 This morning we re up early to catch low tide and explore the incredible marine biodiversity of the world-famous Burnaby Narrows. Using our kayaks and inflatable skiff, we follow one of our expedition teams in snorkeling gear to check-out giant predatory sunflower stars, multi-coloured bats stars, massive moon snails, decorator crabs, and nudibranchs (sea slugs). Once the tide begins to rise, we return to the Passing Cloud and continue our travels southward to Kunghit Island, traditional territory of the Kunghit Haida. 8 9 Today we travel to the ancient village of SGang Gwaay on Anthony Island. The village remained inhabited until approximately 1880, and in 1984 was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in recognition of its globally significant cultural heritage. Here we find the remains of massive long houses, and a stunning grove of standing mortuary and memorial poles. We will embark on a guided tour of the village to learn about the traditional Haida way of life and social systems. On our final day, we get one last chance to experience the breathtaking Gwaii Haanas region, this time from the window of a floatplane. We will take in a spectacular 50-minute flight back to Sandspit, where our journey officially comes to an end. 5

6 If you have any questions about our expeditions, or a specific detail about the expedition you have booked, please let us know by phone or visit our website for more information. Photo Credits: James Thompson, Ryan Flett, Tavish Campbell, and Russell Markel. 360 B Harbour Road Victoria, British Columbia V9A 3S1, Canada info@outershores.ca (Toll Free in North America) (Local and International)