HAIDA ROOTS
LANGUAGE PRESERVATION & ARTS

These songs are owned by specific Haida lineages. The ownership is determined by lineage, the social structure splits Haida people in different groups and we have have had this social structure for 1,000s of years.

The tune of this song is from "Little Grass Shack". My great-auntie changed the words and title to "Little Smoke Shack" to fit village life in Hydaburg, AK. Almost every house in the small village has a "little smoke shack" where families traditionally smoke salmon and more. In this 2023 version of the song, we translated it completely to the Haida Language (Alaskan dialect). We hope you enjoy this rendition of this oldie-but-goodie...and maybe learn some Haida along the way! :) Credits: Robert Yates - Haida Translator Sondra Segundo - Haida Singer/Translator/Video Editor Eric Cunningham - Ukulele/Videographer Gabrielle Russo - Videographer Deena Russo - Videographer Ja háw'aa to David Edenshaw for the boat ride to Sukwaan! Ja háw'aa to our little star, Xúuya Jáad Edenshaw Location: Hydaburg Alaska Summer 2023 The making of this video was funded by the Haida Roots Language Program. To learn more, please visit website: https://www.haidaroots.com

‘My Mind is Relieved’ is from the ‘Grizzly Bear Town’ album released 9-August-2017, www.ravencallingproductions.ca Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson (vocals) with Bill Henderson (guitar) and Claire Lawrence (saxophone). Gidin Jaad Erica Ryan-Gagne, Jaadsang kinghliias Desiree Wilson, and Gulxa Taa’a Gaagii Ng.aang Nadine Wilson (background vocals). My husband Robert Davidson composed this song to celebrate the completion of a tremendous undertaking, such as a potlatch. He gifted this song to all Haida people at the conclusion of his potlatch on October 29, 2016. It was so wonderful to film this video in front of Robert's artwork on the longhouse at Hlk'yah GawGa (Windy Bay). This longhouse is a beautiful marker of the Haida Nation’s efforts to protect the southern portion of Haida Gwaii in 1985, an area that the Haida Nation had designated as the Gwaii Haanas Haida Heritage Site. Ultimately, the Government of Canada also agreed to protect the area, and the Haida Nation and Parks Canada have cooperatively managed the Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site (since 1993), and the National Marine Conservation Area Reserve (since 2010). As one of the birthplaces of the public journey of the Haida Nation towards reconciliation, filming the music video here was fitting because we strive to demonstrate reconciliation on the ground, through music. It’s a contemporary-traditional composition, but journeys further, integrating guitar and saxophone with traditional Haida singers, and complemented by our diverse production team. Available on iTunes | https://itunes.apple.com/ca/artist/terri-lynn-williams-davidson/id441607153 Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/artist/4gA2oO3SvJGMHJKveCnrxK CD available | http://www.ravencallingproductions.ca/store/ Producer | Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson Cinematographers | Nang K’uulas Patrick Shannon, Julia Graff Editor | Julia Graff Boss Lady Extraordinaire | May Henderson Communications | Suzanne Little and Sharon Bloedorn, Slinctank Filmed on location in the village of Hlk'yah GawGa (Windy Bay) in September 2016, with the permission of the Archipelago Management Board and Parks Canada Agency (Gwaii Haanas Heritage Site and the Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and National Marine Conservation Area Reserve, Haida Gwaii), and with the assistance of the Haida Gwaii Watchmen. Erica, Desiree and Nadine recorded (Bill Henderson) and filmed (Patrick Shannon) at the Performance House of the Haida Heritage Centre at Kay Llnagaay, in Skidegate, Haida Gwaii.

The 2nd single from Khu.éex's upcoming album "Red Cedar In The Hour of Chaos", a journey through a world where colonization ever-repeats its' own chaos and Native people ever-strategize tactical resiliency. Originating as a hand drum song, "Love Birds" path continued into a gospelfied soul piece, traveling through Haida, Tlingit, and English dialects. "Love Birds" celebrates human connection, modeling healthy relationships to our youth, the progression of youth into elderhood, loyalty, the contemporary survival of our traditional support systems, and truly supporting each other. "Love Birds" is a challenge to the perpetuation of negative stereotypes and the assumption of dysfunction towards Native relationships. Song & video creation was inspired by a true love story and is presented in the Haida & Tlingit languages. The video features the first Haida totem (carved by Reg Davidson) raised in Craig, AK since they were banned, Haida Eagle & Raven clan totems in Hydaburg, AK (carved by Joe & TJ Young) and formline art by Preston Singletary and Sondra Segundo. Filmed in Hydaburg, Craig and Juneau Alaska. This video also features the Haida Roots Raven Clan Singers, a 4 generations dance group/ descendants of the Lovebirds and their Raven Clan Matriarch, Náanaa Stláay. "Red Cedar In The Hour of Chaos" album coming soon. Produced by Randall Dunn. Copyright 2025 Cedar Plank Industries https://www.khueex.com Bandcamp: https://khueex.bandcamp.com IG: https://www.instagram.com/khueex TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@khueex Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Koo.eex Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/1Ea0bgpmTZmjHx7ioo58Hi YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@khueex

Saláanaa Gúusuugang (The Lord's Prayer) was translated to K’iigáanii Xáad kíl (Alaskan Haida Language) by Dr. Erma Lawrence, Haida Hymnal 1972. Haida Singer, Sondra Segundo, learned how to sing this song from Erma. Buy song on Bandcamp: https://sondrasegundo.bandcamp.com/track/the-lord-s-prayer-acapella-sung-in-the-haida-language Buy album on Bandcamp: https://sondrasegundo.bandcamp.com/album/s-andlaanaay-the-first-light From album "Sáandlaanaay - The First Light", released March 22, 2020 Produced by Tim Kennedy and Sondra Segundo-Cunningham Mixed by Tim Kennedy

New video for the "Siigaay Gid uu Dii Iijang (Ocean Child I Am)" single off of the "Siyáadlan" album. Listen to the new album at https://khueex.bandcamp.com/ or https://www.khueex.com/listen Musically, "Siyáadlan" is a guitar-centered album highlighting new vocalists Sondra Segundo and Air Jazz alongside founding member Gene Tagaban. Music on this new album interweaves influences of Malian desert blues, Thom Bell arrangements, and cinematic imagery of David Lynch and Michael Mann with Haida and Tlingit hand drum songs.

#HaidaNation #AlaskaNative #NativeMusic #Haidalanguage #HaidaMusic Please comment any memories of this song or Vesta Johnson.

Composed in the Alaskan Haida dialect by Sondra Segundo, translations by Rob Yates. Buy song: https://sondrasegundo.bandcamp.com/track/s-andlaanaay-the-first-light Buy full album: https://sondrasegundo.bandcamp.com/album/s-andlaanaay-the-first-light

Having fun teaching Haida Language to the littles at the Native Family Learning Lodge! This song translation was inspired by Frank Henry Kasha Katasse. Adapted from "Old McDonald had a Farm". Translated to Xaad kíl by Skíl Jáadei Linda Shrack. Haw'aa (thank you) Xantsíi Náay Immersion Preschool (Sarah Peele) for teaching the Haida Roots Language Program (Sondra Segundo) this song!