A Haida Wedding
A love hi(story).
In 1996, Terri-Lynn Williams of the Raven Clan from Xuuajii 'Laanas & Robert Davidson of the Eagle Clan from Ts'aahl were married in a traditional Haida ceremony. This was both an act of love and honor for their ancestors, and a political choice to legitimize their union under Haida law without colonial legal validation.
Their ceremony was the first traditional Haida wedding in over a century, and this beautiful book serves as an archive and exploration of the union!
Complete with pictures, stories from Elders, and lovely details about the process of planning their nuptials, this book is both a lovely memoir, a work of art, and a powerful historical document.
An immense amount of thought went into their planning process, down to the symbolism in their chosen imagery, the choice of a traditional canoe arrival for their families, their clothing (see: her DRESS♥︎ ), and the way they documented the ceremony.
There is also historical knowledge woven throughout the book to provide context to how meaningful this was.
This beautiful wedding was an act of cultural revival and they carefully followed so many of their ancestral traditions.
I am not Indigenous but I was born and raised on the West Coast and found myself emotional reading through this book. Though this is not ancestrally my land, I connect to the water and the mountains and the images they captured of their ceremony are absolutely gorgeous, invoking the presence of nature on their special day.
Knowing the unjust and genocidal restrictions we placed on Coast Salish communities and their practices, this book itself is an act of resistance. It's so beautiful to me to see the impact of just one couple choosing to celebrate their love in this way, and the ripple effect that has had. They also renewed their vows in 2016! ♥︎
Thank you so much to Heritage House Publishing for the gifted copy
Reading Journal Questions
What do you know about the Haida peoples?
Have you ever witnessed or participated in any Coast Salish traditional practices?
What message does it send to hold a traditional Haida wedding and not be "legally" married by a member of the Church?
What impact did the use of their traditional language have on you throughout the book?
The ceremonies and practices outlined in this book were at one time illegal in Canada. Why is it so important that they are still known today?
