On Saturday, September 27, 2025, Cody Saulnier Green (left) and artist Ab Morrison-Hayward (right) unveiled the Haisla Legacy Pole at the Haisla Youth Centre. (Robin Rowland)
On Saturday, September 27, 2025, members of the Haisla Nation, residents of Kitimat and officials from Rio Tinto came together in Haisla, the Kitamaat Village, c̓imauc̓a, to unveil an aluminum totem pole that recounts the origin story of the Haisla.
To honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Haisla Nation and Rio Tinto came together to create the totem pole. The pole was designed by Haisla artist Ab Morrison-Hayward and brought to fruition by the Rio Tinto Fabrication Shop.
Haisla Nation heriditary chief Jake Duncan noted that the pole marks both the long history of the Haisla Nation and the legacy of the landmark reconciliation agreement between the Haisla Nation and Rio Tinto. (Robin Rowland)The opening prayer. (Robin Rowland)Deputy Chief Concillor Kim Robinson spoke to the gathering. (Robin Rowland) The pole recounts the Haisla origin story with an eagle at the top, an oolichan in the middle, surrounded by the sea monster the Haisla first spotted when they came up what is now Douglas Channel. (Robin Rowland)
Artist Ab Morrison-Hayward explains the significance of the Haisla Legacy Pole. (Robin Rowland)
The design of the pole recounts the story of how the Hasila came to what is now Douglas Channel. Morrison-Hayward based the pole on the story in Tales Of Kitamaat A Selection Of Legends, Folk Stories And Customs Of The Haisla People by the late Gordon Robinson. In the tale, an exile came into the then unexplored Douglas Channel and saw, in the distance, what he thought was a sea monster. When he got closer he saw the monster was really thousands of seabirds in the Kitimat River estuary and decided it was a good place to find a new home. Morrison-Hayward told the story behind the aluminum pole entirely in x̄á’islak̓ala, the Haisla language.
Rio Tinto BC Works general manager Simon Pascoe presents Haisla artist Ab Morrison-Hayward with a thank you memento at the unveiling of the Haisla Legacy Pole. (Robin Rowland)The thank you gift is a minature version of the legacy pole. (Robin Rowland)The Haisla Braid singers and dancers celebrate the unveiling of the Haisla Legacy pole at the Haisla Youth Centre. (Robin Rowland) The Haisla Braid singers and dancers celebrate the unveiling of the Haisla Legacy pole at the Haisla Youth Centre. (Robin Rowland)
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