One of the great things about the Great Box project is that
the artists involved, Gwaai Edenshaw and Jaalen Edenshaw, are working in many
ways in their community to preserve Haida culture. One of their ventures has
been 'Haidawood', a series of stop-animation videos in Haida language, some with
English subtitles, telling important Haida stories. Made with family and community members, these are remarkably creative and engaging
animations. Their story about the origin of
Taaw, or Tow Hill, in the north end of Haida Gwaii with English
subtitles has just been released on YouTube:
The struggle to preserve Haida culture and language is
political as well as creative. After over a century of assimilation policies,
Haida people are fighting to keep their language from extinction. Now Haida
culture faces a new threat, in the form of proposed oil tanker routes which
would cross their territory. Given the dependence of Haida people on the
pristine marine ecology and the way that culture and ocean and land are woven
together, the effects of tanker movements or any oil spilled would be
disastrous.
Gwaai and Jaalen and the Haidawood crew are using their animated
videos to get this message across. Their ‘Haida Raid’ videos have now given rise to a crowd-funding campaign to make a ‘Save Our Waters’
video (both below).
It’s powerful.
It’s powerful.
