Naikoon Park

Naikoon is the traditional territory of the Haida Nation and figures prominently in their present lifestyles and history. There are many places of cultural and spiritual importance as well as historic village sites and important food gathering sites throughout the park. Colonial settlement began in the early 1900s. Although it failed to prosper, evidence of settlements can still be found within the park.Naikoon Park takes its name from Née Kun, meaning "House Point". Hear the pronunciation of Née Kun from language speaker, Jasḵwaan Bedard, speaking X̱aad Kí,l the Old Massett dialect of the Haida Language. There were once numerous dialects of the Haida language, as many dialects as there were villages.  In the present day, there are three recognized dialects of the Haida language. In Northern Haida there is X̱aad Kíl, also known as the Old Massett dialect of the Haida language. In Southern Haida Gwaii the dialect is called X̱aayda Kil, or the Skidegate dialect of the Haida language. The third dialect is also called X̱aad KIl, and is spoken by Ḵ'íis X̱aadee peoples from Southeast Alaska.