Graham Island Island

Address: Graham Island, Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada

Graham Island is the largest island in the Haida Gwaii archipelago (formerly the Queen Charlotte Islands) off the north coast of British Columbia. It is a principal population and cultural centre for the Haida Nation and for communities on the islands.

The island has been occupied by the Haida people for millennia and contains archaeological and cultural landscapes tied to Haida traditions. European contact and colonial settlement from the 18th and 19th centuries led to development of fishing, logging and small-town communities.

Graham Island lies off the north coast of British Columbia within Haida Gwaii; access from the mainland is typically via ferry or air services to the island group and the landscape is dominated by temperate rainforest and coastal marine environments.

• Access and culture: Regular ferry and air connections link the island group with mainland British Columbia (Prince Rupert), and the island is an entry point for Haida cultural tourism and wilderness recreation.

What to See#

• Main island of Haida Gwaii: The northern part of Haida Gwaii and the archipelago’s largest island, hosting coastal communities, rivers and extensive temperate rainforest ecosystems. The island contains cultural sites and totem-pole traditions of the Haida Nation.

Ferries from Prince Rupert (BC Ferries) arrive at Skidegate on Graham Island; small planes also fly into Sandspit or Masset from regional airports. Local roads connect coastal villages; services are limited compared with the mainland.

• If visiting Haida Gwaii, plan island time carefully-ferry schedules to Graham Island (Skidegate/Sandspit) are seasonal and weather-dependent.
• Respect local Indigenous protocols; many sites are culturally sensitive-ask for permission and guidance where appropriate.