My Haida name is K’aayhldaa Xyaalaas. I am from the Yahgu’laanas Raven Clan and I was raised on the islands of Haida Gwaii. Haida Gwaii is the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Haida people. I recently completed my marine biology degree from Hawaii Pacific University. I chose to study marine science to compliment traditional Haida values and culture, my love for the waters of Haida Gwaii, and growing up understanding that the ocean is a part of who we are. My passion for the ocean stems from my culture: the relationship Indigenous people have with the land and water. This relationship is based upon respect, reciprocity and gratitude. It is my goal to protect and restore the natural environment for future generations. As a young professional, I seek to incorporate traditional Haida teachings and ways of knowing within the modern world and dismantle the systems in place that continue to oppress Indigenous Peoples globally.
