It was the perfect night for a concert. The sun was shining in the blue sky (our usual weather, right?), with diamonds glistening on the water of Masset Inlet. The first song was, appropriately enough, “Indigenous Rising,” with an incredible flute accompaniment. With that we knew the evening would be memorable.
Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson, whose Haida name is Gid7ahl-Gudsllaay Lalaxaaygans, is an activist, an artist, a singer, a dancer, and a lawyer at White Raven Law Corporation. This was the launch of her second album, and her first book, Out of Concealment: Female Supernatural Beings of Haida Gwaii. It is completely stunning.
The concert happened before a full house at Tluu Xaada Naay, Christian White’s longhouse in Old Massett on Wednesday, Aug. 9. Bill Henderson was on guitar and vocals, and Claire Henderson on flute, saxophone, and vocals. This is one hot band to accompany Terri-Lynn, with some songs in English, and some in Haida language. (My favourite song of the night was “Cedar Sister,” and the music is now on constant play in my car.) We were so lucky to witness their first concert on Haida Gwaii; the second one was at Kay Llnagaay in Skidegate the night afterward.
The exhibition at the Kay Centre of the Female Supernatural Beings of Haida Gwaii will be up until the end of December. Everyone I have spoken to who has seen it says it is not to be missed. The books and CDs are available at the Chown River Gallery, which is eight kilometres east of Masset, and at Sarah’s Longhouse in Old Massett. I have already begun reading the book, and found the introductions by famed anthropologist and explorer Wade Davis and elder Diane Brown very intriguing. If you are in Vancouver on Aug. 27, they will be performing at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre, a venue which is pretty stellar.
I am sure that the Agate Man Triathlon/hiGahik’aats iihlangaa will be a great success on Saturday, Aug. 19. Between swimming in Pure Lake, cycling to the Masset firehall, and running around the Delkatla Sanctuary, how could you not have fun?
There is a meeting about the new library on Monday, Aug. 21 from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Howard Phillips Hall. You will learn about the plans for a new library for Masset, which is a branch of the Vancouver Island Regional Library system. If you do not have a library card, get to the library and get one: they are open Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 5 p.m.; Thursdays from 1 to 4 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m.; and Fridays from 1 to 5 p.m.; and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. You can borrow CDs, books, DVDs, magazines, chill in one of their comfy chairs, and use a computer. I think that libraries are the heart of our communities. A library card is free and opens up so many doors for our leisure activities.
For people who live here, and who are visiting Haida Gwaii, we have a great little farmers’ market across from the credit union on Fridays between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. There are a variety of vendors who have homemade items for sale, ranging from free-range eggs (well, the chickens are free range) to jams, bread, art, and much more.
Masset really is magic! Enjoy your last couple of weeks of summer and see you back here on Sept. 1. Please get your news to me by Aug. 24.