How the Haida Traveled

The Haida, master seafarers of the Pacific Northwest, used several canoe types:

• Dugout Canoes: Hollowed from single Western red cedar logs; up to 20 m long, carrying 50 people; most common.
• Plank Canoes: Cedar planks sewn with spruce roots; lighter, faster, but harder to build.
• Sailing Canoes: Equipped with seal-skin or canvas sails for long voyages; hundreds of km per day.
• Kayaks: Small, one-person, seal-skin or canvas on wood frame; highly maneuverable for hunting/fishing in shallow water.

All were often decorated with intricate painted designs. Haida canoes plied waters from Alaska to California.