Skidegate is welcoming all islanders and visitors to the annual Skidegate Days celebration this weekend.
Roberta Aiken, one of the people who's been working around the clock to organize the event, says it should be a great weekend with lots of fun events for people of all ages.
Special guests are a Ksan dance group visiting for the event, and Ms Aiken is calling on all Haida people to put on their regalia and join the Ksan guests in a clan parade Saturday morning.
"It's to showcase our own culture," she said.
Ms Aiken also pointed out some events of special interest to teenagers, including beach volleyball and two-on-two basketball Friday evening starting around 6 pm. Volleyball is open to everyone, and the basketball is specially for teens 16 and under.
Perhaps the highlight of the day will be the canoe race, open to adults over 16 years of age. Anyone can participate - just put together a team of 12 paddlers and one steersman, and sign up Saturday afternoon at 1:30 pm. Cost is $130 per team - just $10 per person for a chance to paddle in a traditional Haida canoe.
Ms Aiken said another highlight will be Dr. Tracy Morton's head shaving, set to take place at 5 pm Saturday. Dr. Morton volunteered to have his head shaved to raise money. The barber, fresh out of hairdressing school, is Annie Funk, also known as Annie "Chops".
There'll be lots of good things to eat, from a pancake breakfast Saturday morning at the community hall to fried bread at lunch, corn on the cob, and pie, to a dinner-time salmon barbeque.
Ms Aiken added that there are some awesome raffles, with prizes like a return trip for two to Vancouver with Canucks tickets.
For a complete schedule, see the ad on page 9.