Old Masset Village Council

Dialect: X̱aad Kil A
Media Gallery Click for media
Media Album
Map Click here for larger map
Historically known as: Old Massett Band

Contact Information:
Old Masset Village Council
PO Box 189
Masset, BC
V0T 1M0
ph. (250) 626-3337
fx. (250) 626-5440

The village of Old Massett is on the northern shore of Graham Island, the largest and most northern island of X̱AAYDAG̱A GWAAY.YAAY B (Queen Charlotte Islands). Old Massett was historically four seperate villages: aaw C, iijaaw D, jagwaal E, and ḵ’yang F.

Listen to Nonnie Mary explain the historic village locations to Leona Clow: G

Language Information

Fluent Speakers: 10 1
Understand or Speak Somewhat: 60 1
Learning Speakers: 400 1

Old Massett is home to X̱aada families who previously lived in a number of different villages in their territory. Each village had its own dialect and there are five different dialects that are currenty spoken by residents of Old Massett.
Most fluent speakers of X̱aad Kil are now in their 80s and those who understand or speak the langauge somewhat are mostly in their 60s. Younger people are now showing a greater interest in the language and there is hope that community members will continue to learn their language.

Community Information

Population: 2586 1

Links
Footnotes / References
1. Haida Nation/Haida Heritage and Repatriation Society (2011), Language Needs Assessment #2368

Audio Clip References
A. X̱aad Kil - Swanson, M. (2008, Sept. 2). Interview with Mary Swanson & Leona Clow.
B. X̱AAYDAG̱A GWAAY.YAAY - Gwaag̱anad (Brown, D.) (2008, Sept. 3). Interview with Gwaag̱anad (Diane Brown).
C. aaw - Swanson, M. (2008, Sept. 2). Interview with Mary Swanson & Leona Clow.
D. iijaaw - Swanson, M. (2008, Sept. 2). Interview with Mary Swanson & Leona Clow.
E. jagwaal - Swanson, M. (2008, Sept. 2). Interview with Mary Swanson & Leona Clow.
F. ḵ’yang - Swanson, M. (2008, Sept. 2). Interview with Mary Swanson & Leona Clow.
G. Listen to Nonnie Mary explain the historic village locations to Leona Clow: - Swanson, M. (2008, Sept. 2). Interview with Mary Swanson & Leona Clow.