Boatbuilding Families of Greater Masset

From time immemorial, in the land of monumental cedars, Haida have been building tluu canoes and traveling the waters around Haida Gwaii and far beyond.  After colonization,  the removal to reservations and implementation of residential schools almost wiped out the north island populations, Haida traditional boat building transitioned to commercial boat building. Many a boat building shed could be found along the waterfront of Gaw Káahlii Masset Inlet.  The Old Massett Mosquito fleet was well known and respected along the entire coast but the canneries who financed the boat building by Haida ended up repossessing the boats in the 1950’s.  Yet the traditions and skills managed to survive and  Haida descendants like John Bennett are preserving the skills and protecting the knowledge. 

Built in his boat shed in Old Massety, a stunning carvel boat by John Bennett is on display in the museum.