Haida Totem Raising brings spirit of reconciliation to Daajing Giids/Queen Charlotte

Photo from Daajing Giids/Queen Charlotte RCMP Detachment

An event that was a number of years in the planning took place this week on Haida Gwaii, as a large number of community members took in the raising of a Haida Totem Pole at the Daajing Giids/Queen Charlotte RCMP Detachment.

As we noted last week, the plans for the totem raising began to reach the last few steps over the course of the last month, leading up to the September 9th gathering.

As part of the ceremony the detachment also raised the Council of Haida Nations flag for the first time at the ceremony, the flag will now flay permanently in front of the detachment

"The flag symbolizes two things, the first being the detachment is built on Haida traditional territory and the second is it represents the people who we serve. This was an important event for the Detachment and the communities that we serve. 

It definitely couldn’t have happened without the support of the Haida Hereditary Chief leadership, Skidegate Band Council and the Council of Haida Nation. Their support was instrumental in finally raising the totem pole."  -- Sgt. Greg Willcocks, Daajing Giids (Queen Charlotte) RCMP Detachment Commander. 

Photo from Daajing Giids/Queen Charlotte RCMP Detachment

As part of their information release on the event, the RCMP noted of the background and path taken towards the event and the spirit of reconciliation that it brings. 

Originally designed by Billy Yovanovich Jr through a contest which occurred 10-years-ago by the Queen Charlotte detachment, the totem was later carved by Haida master carver Garner Moody. 

The 10-foot-tall totem pole features a traditional Haida Watchman which are the protectors of the community and land; a copper shield; pink fingers nails representing the LGBTQ2+ community; and the watchmen wearing a Stetson hat to symbolize the RCMP.

Also on hand for the event was North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice, who recapped her experience at the Totem Raising through her Social Media feed.

More notes on Emergency Responders across the Northwest and on Haida Gwaii can be found from our archive page here.