Gwaii Haanas National Park/Haida Heritage Site

The Haida Nation designated Gwaii Haanas as a Heritage Site under the authority of the Haida Constitution. The Haida Nation's Gwaii Haanas policies and the Gwaii Haanas Agreement provide direction for managing the area.

The Haida recognize that Gwaii Haanas' natural and cultural elements are inseparably intertwined, and that protection of Gwaii Haanas is essential to sustaining Haida culture. The Haida Nation also recognizes the value of Gwaii Haanas to the world.

The "watchmen" are three human figures wearing high hats, often perched on the top of Haida poles. Legend says that the role of the watchmen is to alert the pole's owner to the approach of an enemy or any other happenings of which he should be aware. This is the symbol adopted by the Haida to represent the Haida Gwaii Watchmen Program.

The Haida People, in recognizing that natural and cultural elements cannot be separated and that the protection of Gwaii Haanas is essential to sustaining Haida culture, initiated the Watchmen Program to protect culturally significant sites in Gwaii Haanas.

Skung Gwaii, Hotspring Island, Windy Bay, Tanu and Skedans are the most frequently visited cultural sites in Gwaii Haanas. Skedans and Tanu are outside the national park reserve boundaries but within the Haida Heritage Site boundaries.

The AMB manages all the cultural sites through the Haida Gwaii Watchmen program. Deterioration of the sites' cultural features, especially at the World Heritage Site of Gan Gwaii/Anthony Island, is of particular concern. The presence of the Haida Gwaii Watchmen in Gwaii Haanas is a critical element in protecting sensitive sites and in educating visitors. Protecting sensitive sites by their presence, the Haida Gwaii (Gwaii Haanas) Watchmen help visitors understand Haida culture.