Haida Eagle • Gyáa'aang

The Haida of Southeast Alaska, known as the Kaigani Haida, migrated from Haida Gwaii in Canada to Southeast Alaska in the late 17th century and settled in several different sites on Prince of Wales Island. Today they are largely concentrated in Hydaburg, Kasaan, and Craig. They brought with them their rich Northwest Coast art traditions. Totem pole designs represent clan crests and are the most important symbols of Haida history and identity. These crests were acquired by ancestors in the ancient past and represent crucial encounters with animal persons and spiritual beings, while other significant recent events in clan histories are also memorialized in crests. The Haida Eagle pole depicts a classic Eagle clan hat, the Eagle crest, Frog, Beaver, and Bear, all of which were obtained through supernatural encounters. The Haida believe that everything has a spirit, including elements of the universe such as the stars, moon, and sun.

Juneau, Alaska · United States