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CultureLanguageThe Haida language is spoken by the Haida of Haida Gwaii and by Haida living along the cost of Alaska. The Haida language is part of the Na-Dene family of Aboriginal languages, but is not closely related to any other language. ReligionThe Haida believed in medicine people who could gain special powers from the great supernatural beings. Supernatural beings are those that live beyond the earth world. They may have the power of the sun, the moon, or even the thunders. A Haida medicine person with powers from these beings would dress in special clothes. He usually wore a dancing blanket. When people were sick he would try and cure them. He would have an assistant to help him. The assistant would beat a drum while the medicine person used his powers to cure. The Haida believed that when people became sick, it meant they were out of balance. The drumming and singing would help bring people back into balance and they would get well.
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