Haida Gwaii Field School
Program Overview
Haida Gwaii, known to the Haida as "Islands of the People", is a diverse archipelago of over 150 islands located on the northwest coast of British Columbia, Canada. Also known as the Queen Charlotte Islands, these islands are nestled below the Alaskan Panhandle and separated from the British Columbia mainland by Hecate Strait. The Haida people have lived on Haida Gwaii for over 12,000 years. Recent findings have pushed that date back a further 1,000 years.
The Haida Gwaii Field School is an interdisciplinary biocultural studies program, offered with the support of the people and communities on Haida Gwaii. Biocultural studies at the College promote learning about the unique biological and cultural diversity and the interconnectedness of the two in northwest British Columbia. Biocultural studies also promote learning about the importance of sustaining that diversity given increasing assaults of environmental degradation. Biocultural studies support conservation, restoration and local control of resources including new out-of-the-box perspectives on how governments, industry, NGO's and local people can work together for an ecologically sustainable and just society.
Students and faculty, with the participation of Haida knowledge keepers, will learn of the Haida Homeland and Life Ways and Haida peoples’ concepts about, and interactions with, the unique ecosystems of Haida Gwaii. Students will learn of Haida oral histories from creation to recent and see how they compare to what western scientists are learning on the Islands. Students will learn of the impacts of contact and cash economy and disease. Students will undoubtedly gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the complexities of Haida culture over time. The program will include a field trip to Swan Bay Rediscovery Camp located in Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site.
Gandll K'in Gwaayaay - Hot Spring Island - Gwaii Haanas Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site
T'anuu 'llnagaay - Tanu - Haida Gwaii Watchmen Cabin.
Registration
Classes fill quickly and space is limited so register in advance. Only receipt of payment guarantees your place.
Registration Options
- Phone 1.877.277.2288. Pay with credit card (Visa, MasterCard or American Express).
- Drop in. Register at your local campus. Pay with credit card, debit card, or cheque. Post-dated cheques are not acceptable.
Note: Sponsoring agencies and employers may fax an authorization to invoice for student registration. The authorization to invoice must be accompanied by a Field School Application form.
Course Cancellations
A minimum number of students are required to run field schools. If that number is not reached, NWCC reserves the right to cancel a field school. Every attempt will be made to notify you in advance. A full refund is processed automatically unless you notify us that you wish to register for another field school.
Confirmation
We do not call registered students to confirm that a field school is running. Students are ONLY contacted if the field school is cancelled. Check your registration statement carefully for course dates and times, and refer to this page for more info on fees, withdrawals and our refund policy.
Waitlists
Registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis upon full receipt of tuition fees at the time of registration. If a field school is full, your name is placed on a waitlist. Those on the waitlist will be contacted and registration will be confirmed upon full receipt of tuition fees and the 20% deposit.
Should a space become available in a course (due to student withdrawals or another reason) the person whose name is first on the waitlist will be contacted. If that person cannot be reached the next person on the list will be contacted.
Fees, Withdrawals & Refunds
Full refunds are made only if a field school is cancelled by the College or if the student withdraws from a field school for a documented medical or bereavement reason before the start of the field school. Withdrawals and requests for refunds are administered as follows:
- 100% if NWCC cancels the field school
- 100% refund of deposit &/or fees if someone from the waitlist takes your place
- A deposit of 20% of field school fee is due at registration
- Full fees MUST be paid in full 2 weeks prior to field school start date
Disclaimer
Field school activities, sites, and dates may be changed due to weather or other environmental occurrences beyond the control of NWCC. All efforts will be made to provide a comparable field school experience should any itinerary change be necessary.