Where culture meets Creativity
Building the expertise and infrastructure to bring Haida Gwaii to the world
Our arts & culture society, Precious Culture Society, is dedicated to supporting the advancement of creative and cultural arts on Haida Gwaii.
Through workshops, media production, co-working, and social entrepreneurship, we aim to nurture and promote the diverse talents and traditions of this unique region.
Join us in celebrating and preserving the rich heritage of Haida Gwaii through our innovative programs and initiatives.
Cultural Arts Initiative
Naaxiin Beginner Weaving class
March-June 2024
Delores Churchill worked with Xaad Kil Knee to record language relating to Naaxiin weaving and then to teach this to our class. She’s the mother of our teacher, Evelyn Vanderhoop, and her daughter Carrie Anne Vanderhoop also visited and assisted in teaching our class.
The official assistant instructor was Elsie Gale
Xaad Kil taught by Delores Churchill and Jaasaljuus
The
Precious Culture
House
The Need
One of the first projects that the Precious Culture Society has identified is the need for a dedicated space to host arts & culture on the south end of Haida Gwaii.
Where community halls and other spaces do exist, they are often not suitable for many events (too large, not the right equipment, too expensive), are not often available due to the competition of other community bookings.
What Is It?
Our solution is to construct a dedicated and accessible open concept space that is designed in the traditional longhouse style, but has the amenities required to facilitate regular events for up to 60 people.
The building will serve as a co-working space for creatives and entrepreneurs to work, a media equipment rental library for the Haida Gwaii Media Collective; and a flexible space open to community members to access at very affordable rates (or even free) to practice language and cultural arts revitalization.
Who Will it Help?
Located on the Skidegate reserve, the Precious Culture House will serve as a flexible space for local artists, weavers, filmmakers, photographers, makers, social entrepreneurs, and more to have a central gathering space to work together and build a stronger creative community on Haida Gwaii.
Our islands are full of ambition and creativity, but with no dedicated gathering spaces for the arts, most people are siloed and unable to easily collaborate or support one-another.
The Precious Culture House will become the unifying central hub for arts & cultural initiatives on Haida Gwaii.
Meet the team
The Precious Culture Society was founded by Indigenous changemakers Nang Ḵ’uulas Patrick Shannon, Lo’lus Brianna-Rose Julian, and Marchel Shannon.
With a passion for supporting arts and culture in the communities of Haida Gwaii; the Precious Culture Society team are building capacity and pushing to create dedicated spaces to address the needs within Haida Gwaii’s artistic, cultural, and economic communities.
Get in Touch with Precious Culture Society
Do you have a passion for the arts and culture scene on Haida Gwaii? Connect with us and discover exciting opportunities to support the advancement of creative expression! We look forward to hearing from you!