Yaaguun Gandlaay Conservancy

Yaaguun G̱andlaay Conservancy has been used since time immemorial by the people of the Haida Nation for cultural, social and spiritual purposes. The villages and seasonal camps of Sahldungkun, Hlakeguns, Lanaslnagai, Yagunkun and Undlskadjuns were originally located at the outlet of Yakoun River and around the shoreline of Yakoun Bay. This area was considered as one of the most important food fish gathering locations on Haida Gwaii. There are 25 registered archaeological sites exist within the boundaries of the conservancy and hundreds of culturally modified trees have been recorded within this area.When translated from the Haida language, Yaaguun G̱andlée is the name of the "Yakoun" River. Hear the pronunciation of Yaaguun G̱andlée from language speaker, Jasḵwaan Bedard, speaking X̱aad Kíl, 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.There are two other protected areas in the vicinity of Yaaguun G̱andlaay Conservancy. The southern edge of Kamdis Conservancy is less than 10 kilometres to the northeast, and Yakoun Suu Conservancy which protects the headwaters of the Yakoun River watershed, is located approximately 35 kilometres upstream to the south.