History

In 1918, an influenza pandemic dramatically reduced the Haisla population and wiped out the Wolf and Frog clans. The Haisla community recovered and continues to evolve.

Today there are about 1500 Haisla, half of which live in Kitamaat Village.

Though clan distinctions and connections remain today, Haisla culture combines traditional heritage with Canadian culture. The Na Na Kila Institute was established in 1998 to help protect and encourage development of Haisla culture, including language.

Na Na Kila helped bring about the repatriation of a Haisla totem pole that had been removed in 1929 and was missing for more than 60 years. It was discovered in the Museum of Ethnography in Stockholm in 1991 and, after years of negotiation, it was returned to Kitamaat on July 1, 2006. As part of the agreement the Haisla carved a replica pole for the museum in Stockholm.