The waters around Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site (Queen Charlotte Islands/Haida Gwaii) have been identified by Parks Canada as a potential national marine conservation area reserve. Vancouver Aquarium and Parks Canada have partnered to offer the public a free, unique 4-part speaker series to present the stories of Gwaii Haanas. Come learn about the rich marine heritage, Haida traditions, and fascinating research in this spectacular part of Canada. Each engaging event allows audience members to explore a different aspect of the region and understand the need for its protection. The third session, “Changing Seascapes,” will examine ancient Haida villages, changing sea levels and how historical trade practices have all played a role in shaping today’s Gwaii Haanas.

Lyle Dick & Dr. Norm Sloan: “Sea Otters of Haida Gwaii: Icons of Human-Ocean Relations”

Join Norm and Lyle for a fascinating exploration of the history and ecology of the sea otter on Haida Gwaii over the last two centuries. Learn about what the ecosystem would have been like at the advent of the fur trade, and the implications of fur trade harvest on the abundance of sea otters.

Daryl Fedje & Nicole Smith: “Finding Ancient Shorelines”

On the Northwest Coast the interface between land and sea sustains human life. Come hear how Parks Canada archaeologists Daryl and Nicole have used sea-level reconstruction to find ancient archaeological sites dating to over 10,000 years old and about underwater archaeological projects that uncover traditional Haida resource harvesting features in the intertidal zone.