Educational Materials

 

Thank you for your interest in refining your pronunciation of the names of the Magical Beings.

The Haida Language is a critically endangered language. We are grateful to the Skidegate Haida Immersion Program for providing the Xaayda Kil (Skidegate Dialect) translations, and Jaskwaan, Amanda Bedard for providing the Xaad Kil (Massett Dialect) translations.

We provide three sets of recordings of the names of the Supernatural Beings to help you with pronunciation. The first provides pronunciations in both Skidegate and Massett dialects; the second provides repeated pronunciations in the Skidegate dialect, and the third provides repeated pronunciations in the Massett dialect.

The files are available for you to download, and practice offline if you wish.

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INFORMATION TREASURE HUNT

Please feel free to use our Information Treasure Hunt by Sara Florence Davidson, to further engage children and teach them about Haida art and the Supernatural Beings. You can also download the form below for printing / classroom use.


 

Magical Beings: What Do You See?
An Information Treasure Hunt
By Sara Florence Davidson

 
 


1. An ovoid is a form line shape that is used in Haida art. How many ovoids can you find in the ancient design on the bentwood box in the picture of White Raven?

This is an ovoid shape.

This is an ovoid shape.


2. What can you see in Ice Woman’s hair that shows she is a “woman of the glaciers”?

3. The ocean and forest are very important to the Haida. What do you think Cedar Sister’s headband is made from? (Hint: it shows this important relationship)

4. There are lots of living beings in this picture of Fern Woman. How many can you find? List three of them here:

5. Mouse Woman used to be larger than she is today. How can you tell from the picture of her that she is very small?

6. Based on what you know about the Haida, what do you think the basket that Lady in the Moon is holding is made from?

7. How many frogs can you find in the picture of Frog Woman?

8. On the bush beside Swainson’s Thrush Woman, there are salmon berries and Haida salmon berries. How many Haida salmon berries can you find?
9. Robert Davidson is a Haida artist. One of his designs is hidden in this picture of Butterfly Woman. Where is it?

10. Rainbow Woman is traveling through the feather-covered waters beside a village. What do you see on the front of the longhouses?