Haida Gwaii Museum — Attraction in Area D (Graham Island)

Way overrated and over priced at $16 each adult. I have received much more value in other museums for the same or less money.

The facillty is impressive in itself but it should be given how much government tax money was ploughed into building it.

I visited on a Saturday which by all accounts should be the busiest and most interesting day for a museum - full of rich sights and activities.

For such a beautiful and fairly large museum and interpretation centre there is almost nothing to see and experience except for a guided tour of the outdoor faded and weathered outdoor totem poles (the boy that gave the tour did a good job) and a couple of canoes.

However there is:

a big money donation area located right after you just forked out $16 per person gift shop ready to sell you Chinese made indigenous socks and other stuff for more money a beautiful theatre area, with nothing going on in it impressive educational rooms with nothing going on in them hallways connecting buildings with virtually nothing to see in them an artist area of uninspiring (pictures of rocks) water colour papers that you can fork out more money for a bistro that serves Mexican tacos, Moroccan Harissa, “KFC” and other regular fare with absolutely no local indigenous foods. On this point the museum should be thoroughly embarrassed and ashamed

I was really looking forward to learning all about the Haida people through displays, collages and and history, and buying some local food but in the end it was a significant disappointment. This museum seems to have already...

This was our first stop after we got off our plane. The museum is beautiful! They have a whole section of items that were given back to the Haida through the reparations. It was chilling how much they got back, yet how little in the same breathe. The views from the museum are beautiful. They are located in a sheltered bay with an island in front. They have an amazing section with a canoe that you are able to go see and take pictures of. The gift store also has a great selection of local items. I would highly recommend this as a point of interest to anyone on the island. Just remember to be respectful, and that the Haida culture is not static, it is evolving, so check your exceptions...

This was our first stop in Haida Gwaii so that we could better understand the history and culture prior to visiting the towns. The museum was beautifully laid out, and so informative. We particularly loved the timeline on the wall, and the documentary playing on the 1969 pole raising. The collaborative art piece by students on the residential schools was incredibly powerful and moving. I think this is a stop that everyone should have on their list if they visit...