Decaying Totem Poles at Skidans are visual reminders of the original natives who inhabited the villages in Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands) off Canada’s west coast. The Haida have inhabited the islands for over 10,000 years and were nearly wiped out in the 19th century by European diseases when traders arrived in the area and infected them with smallpox. Memorial poles are testimony to the culture that once thrived in these islands. For more information: check out episode #43 in the Railway Adventures across Canada category.
About Anne Martin
Since the mid 1970s, producer/host, Anne Martin, has been bringing stories to life through the medium of television. She thrives on tracking down the unusual and her work has encompassed history, geology, heritage and a positive outlook on the world around us. Read more about Anne Martin.