Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site

Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site
IUCN category II (national park)[1]
Haida Gwaii Map; Gwaii Haanas is at the southern end
Location of Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve in Canada Show map of Canada Location of Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve in British Columbia Show map of British Columbia
Location	Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada
Nearest city	Sandspit
Coordinates	52°23′21″N 131°28′16″W / 52.38917°N 131.47111°W / 52.38917; -131.47111
Area	1,470 km2 (570 sq mi)
Established	1988
Governing body	Gwaii Haanas Archipelago Management Board
Website	parks.canada.ca/pn-np/bc/gwaiihaanas

Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, National Marine Conservation Area, and Haida Heritage Site, usually referred to simply as Gwaii Haanas (/ˌɡwaɪ ˈhɑːnəs/), is located in southernmost Haida Gwaii (formerly known as Queen Charlotte Islands), 130 kilometres (81 miles) off the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. Gwaii Haanas protects an archipelago of 138 islands, the largest being Moresby Island and the southernmost being Kunghit Island. "Gwaii Haanas" means "Islands of Beauty" in X̱aayda kíl, the language of the Haida people.

The Haida Heritage Site is within the territory of the Haida people, who have lived in Haida Gwaii for at least 14,000 years.^[2][3] Ḵ'aygang.nga (the Haida canon of oral histories) say Haida lived in Gwaii Haanas when the first trees arrived at Xaagyah Gwaay.yaay (Bolkus Islands) as glaciers retreated. Pollen samples indicate trees first arrived 14,500 years ago.^[4]

Numerous films have covered Gwaii Haanas, including the 2011 short National Parks Project, directed by Scott Smith and scored by Sarah Harmer, Jim Guthrie and Bry Webb.^{[citation needed]}