Skidegate () is a Haida community in in British Columbia, Canada. It is on the southeast coast of Graham Island, the largest island in the archipelago, and is approximately west of mainland British Columbia across Hecate Strait.
Skidegate, which is on Skidegate Indian Reserve No. 1 and was formerly home to the Skidegate Mission is also the northern terminal for the BC Ferries service between Graham Island and Alliford Bay on Moresby Island.
The Haida Heritage Centre is in Skidegate along the town's eastern boundary.
Naming According to tradition, the village was named after an earlier village chief, Hlg̱aagilda X̱aayda Kil, Haida language at FirstVoices. Accessed 1 July 2017. whose name late 18th-century traders in sea otter pelts recorded as Skidegate.G.F. MacDonald,[Skidegate https://www.sfu.ca/brc/virtual_village/haida/skidegate.html] 1983, SFU Bill Reid Centre. Accessed 1 July 2017. Between 1790 and 1820, the community was a hub for the exploitation of sea otter furs.Skidegate, VancouverIsland.com (Archived link). Accessed 1 July 2017.
Totem poles
Skidegate is home to a number of totem poles: T'anuu'llnagaay (Tanu) by Giitsxaa Hlknul'llnagaay (Cumshewa) by Gidansda Guujaaw HlGaagilda'llnagaay (Skidegate) by Norman Price K'uuna'llnagaay (Skedans) by Jim Hart Ts'aahj'llnagaay (Chaatl) by Garner Moody Eagle and Bear Mother by Dick Bellis Dogfish, by Bill Reid Unity Pole Chief Skedans Jimmy Wilson Memorial by Bert Wilson and Joe Mander Strongman by Tim Boyko, Skaadgaa Naay elementary school Chief Wiiganaad Sid Crosby Naa'uuwans (chieftanship) by Tim Boyko and Jason Goetzinger Weeping Woman of Taanu by Norman Price St Chieftanship Pole to Honour Matriarch Barb Wilson SGang Gwaay'llnagaay (Ninstints) by Tim Boyko Kaay Watchman's pole
See also
Council of the Haida Nation Skidegate Band Council List of Haida villages
References
External links Skidegate website BC Ferries schedule for Skidegate–Alliford Bay