About

Sii.ngaay ‘laa (Good day)! My Haida name is Gaad Gas, it has no translation. My English name is Raven Ryland. I come from the Yahgulaanas Raven clan in Masset. I grew up in Port Clements, but have been living in Skidegate the past 4 years. I am a Cultural Ambassador for the Haida Heritage Centre.

I have a diploma in Recreation and Sports Management and an Event Management Certificate from Vancouver Island University which I received this June of 2017. Before this, I participated and completed the first pilot project of the Aboriginal Ecotourism Training Program in 2014/15 which was in partnership with the Heiltsuk Tribal Council, Vancouver Island University and North Island College. The program took me to Bella Bella (Heiltsuk territory), Klemtu (Kitasoo/Xai’xais territory), Tofino (Tla-o-qui-aht territory), Alert Bay (Kwakwaka’wakw territory), and Powell River/Lund (Tla’amin territory). Then before this I was in high school.

I look forward to taking the lead on this blog from my predecessor SGaana Gaahlandaay or Alix Goetzinger. I hope I can provide visitors that are planning, hoping or have come to the Centre or to Haida Gwaii to get a better understanding of the Haida Gwaii life and the Haida people. If you are from Haida Gwaii or have lived here before, I hope that this blog gives you pride on where you are from.

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Haaw’a (Thank You),
Raven