Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site

Hlk'yah GaawGa (Windy Bay)

Looking Around and Blinking House
© Parks Canada / K. Alexander

Windy Bay is located on the exposed eastern coast of Lyell Island. It was the site of a major village and later of a summer fishing village called Hlk'yah Llnagaay. (Falcon Town), though neither are apparent today. Near here in 1985, the Haida blocked logging roads in their struggle to put an end to logging on Lyell Island and to protect the area that became Gwaii Haanas. The longhouse-style cabin named "Looking Around and Blinking House" honours this victory.

At Hlk'yah GaawGa the old growth forest contains trees over 1000 years old and up to 70 meters tall. A trail leads through huge Sitka spruce and western red cedar trees, draped with mosses and lichens. Watchmen can point out culturally modified trees. Some of these trees have test holes cut in them to check their appropriateness for making a canoe or carving a pole.

Cedar with bark removed for traditional Haida weaving
© Parks Canada / K. Alexander

Giant Sitka Spruce
© Parks Canada / K. Alexander