Xaadas Tluuwáay

Xaadas Tluuwaay (People’s Canoe) is the result of two years of dedicated work by carver Gitijang Stormy Hamar of Kasaan, Alaska. Crafted from a single piece of western red cedar, the canoe follows the traditional style of the Haida people of the Pacific Northwest. This style of canoe reached its peak in the early 1900s but nearly disappeared due to disease and the advent of internal combustion engines. However, the Haida, known for being an ocean-faring people, have preserved this vital aspect of their culture. The canoe, capable of holding around ten paddlers, requires teamwork to maintain balance and speed. Xaadas Tluuwaay is Gitijang’s fourth carved canoe, representing both a continuation of tradition and a testament to cultural resilience. 
Gitijang Stormy Hamar is also one of the founding members of the Haida Canoe Revitalization Group, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and perpetuating the construction and use of traditional Haida style canoes.