Bio
Guujaaw is a Raven of the Haida Nation, his clan is the Gakyaals Kiigawaay of Skedans, Haida Gwaii. He has been at the inner circles of Haida culture and politics all of his adult life. A trapper with his uncle in his formative years, and like most of his people, he is a hunter, fisher and food gather for living. He has been a carpenter, canoe builder, copper maker, singer and carver.
Guujaaw has a long history as a Rights, Title and Earth Advocate. He was a founding member and served as the president of Coastal First Nations and spent many years with the Council of the Haida Nation including 13 years as President of the Haida Nation. Today serving as a Hereditary leader, always true to culture and keeping priority for the wellbeing of his people and the earth.
Family
Artworks
Raven Transformation Mask, 2012
Design for Longhouse at Deadtree, 2012
Mamatsigaay, Dragon Fly Print, 2010
T’a Canoe, 2007
Hlkinul Llnagaay – Cumshewa Pole, Skidegate, 2006
Jakarta Totem Pole, Canada gift to Indonesia, 1997
Sea Grizzly Pole, 1993
Skidegate Carving Shed, 1990
Second Long House, Hlk’yah GawGa, Windy Bay, Gwaii Haanas, 1990
3 Longhouses, Taalung Slung, Haida Gwaii, 1988
Longhouse at Kiusta, 1986
The Watchman House, Hlk’yah GawGa, Windy Bay, Gwaii Haanas, painted by Robert Davidson, 1985
Work on Bill Reid’s pieces
Canoe at MOA, 1984
Reverse engineering canoes and building prototype and model for Luu Taas
Raven and the First Men, 1980
Dogfish Pole, 1978
Written Works
Contribution to: LALAKENIS/ALL DIRECTIONS: A JOURNEY OF TRUTH AND UNITY
Foreword to: Skidegate Haida myths and histories / collected by John R. Swanton ; edited and translated by John Enrico.
Foreword to Haida Gwaii : human history and environment from the time of loon to the time of the iron people / edited by Daryl W. Fedje and Rolf W. Mathewes.
Foreword to: Sea otters of Haida Gwaii : icons in human-ocean relations / N. A. Sloan & Lyle Dick.
Contribution to: That which makes us Haida / photographs by Farah Nosh ; curated by Jusquan Amanda Bedard and Jisgang, Nika Collison ; edited by Scott Steedman and Jisgang, Nika Collison
Contribution to: The Great Canoes: Reviving a Northwest Coast Tradition
Contribution to: Gina ‘Waadluxan Tluu: The Everything Canoe
Contribution to: Global chorus : 365 voices on the future of the planet
Featured in: Islands’ Spirit Rising: Reclaiming the Forests of Haida Gwaii
Featured in: Chronicals of Pride
Featured in: 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act by Robert Joseph
Performances
Dance and Ceremony Indonesia, 1997
Taku Dance and Pole Raising in Tsukuba Japan, 1985
Dance in UK, (Year?)
Visit to president of Hungary, 1989
Song and Dance at Kobe Worlds Fair, 1981
Official Travel
Travel to Brazil to support Xingu tribe trying to stop dam development in their territory
Travel to Peru to support Indigenous people fighting pipelines and exploitation
Travel to Hokkaido Japan to support Ainu in their work to stop a dam at Nibutani
Travel to China by invitation of university as they prepared for growing tourism
Travel to Venezuela to support indigenous leaders
Travel to Vancouver Island to support Meares Island and Clayoqot Sound
Travel to Carmana Valley to support efforts
Travel to Stikine to support Sacred headwaters
Travel to Ecuador to support Indigenous people in struggle against oil development
Positions Held
President of the Haida Nation 2000 to 2013
A founding member of “Island Protection Society” in early seventies
A founding member “Coastal First Nations”
A founding member “Island Community Stability Initiative”
Contributor to Suzuki Foundation’s Declarations of Interdependence