The Spirit of Haida Gwaii

Spirit of Haida Gwaii is one of the great sculptural masterpieces of our time. It was created by artist Bill Reid, who has spent his life helping to resurrect the artistic traditions of his Haida forebears while honoring the European art tradition and techniques in which he was trained. Full-size versions of the sculpture are on display at the Canadian embassy in Washington, DC; the new Vancouver International Airport; and the Canadian Museum of Civilization.The Spirit of Haida Gwaii is a canoe eighteen feet long, filled to overflowing with the creatures of Haida mythology -- Raven, Eagle, Grizzly and his human wife, Mouse Woman, and Dogfish Woman. At its center stands a human being holding an ancient staff in which the story of creation is told.