In this episode, we talk about Skedans (K’una), a site that rests gently on the edge of Haida Gwaii, yet stands boldly in the history of the Haida people. Norm interviews Watchman Melanie, whose deep familial ties to this “village on the edge” guide the conversation into themes of heritage, respect, and spiritual presence. Book your journey into Haida heritage at https://farandawayadventures.com. Discover how you can walk through living Haida stories at Far and Away Adventures.com.

Once home to more than 600 people, Skedans today is a mosaic of fallen and standing poles, grassy trails, and whispers of ceremony. Melanie reveals how mortuary poles housed the deceased in bentwood boxes and how their deliberate return to the earth is a sacred act—not a failure of preservation, but a triumph of belief.

Learn how visitors often arrive confused about why the Haida don’t move or restore their poles, and leave enlightened by their understanding of nature, death, and spiritual ecology. Melanie’s advice? Visit the Haida Heritage Centre twice—before and after your site tours—for a fuller experience.

This isn’t just a walk among ruins. It’s a meeting with memory itself. Start your next passport stamp at https://farandawayadventures.com

More information on Haida cultural sites: ⁠Haida cultural sites – Gwaii HaanasNational Park Reserve, National Marine Conservation Area Reserve, and HaidaHeritage Site