Kuun Jaadas is good at talking. Adeana Young, which is her English name, has been making a name for herself as a powerful force in Haida politics.
She received a lot of attention as the spokesperson for the G̲aandlee Guu Jaalang, or the “daughters of the rivers” when they announced on July 9 that two luxury sport fishing resorts have disrespected Haida law and jurisdiction, and are putting island residents at risk by reopening despite the ongoing Council of the Haida Nation (CHN) state of emergency measures, which do not permit non-essential travel at this time.
After several community meetings, the release said, the matriarchs are upholding Haida law through the occupation of two ancient villages, Kung and Sk’aawats.
At that time, Adeana was still on the Old Masset Council, who were facing their own challenges of holding community meetings and council sessions via Zoom.
After Kuun Jaadas, Adeana Young was not re-elected to council last December, she started setting her sights on her next platform: running for the Green Party federally in the riding of Skeena Bulkley Valley.
At 327,275 square kms, the riding of Skeena-Bulkley Valley is a daunting area to represent. The land here is unceded Wet’suwet’en territory, strong-willed and sovereign Nisga’a territory, and Haida historical powerhouses (to name a few) with settler communities, cities, villages and towns as well.
Haida Gwaii is over 200 kms from the coast of the province across the Hecate Strait. The people who live on the archipelago of Haida Gwaii have been represented by mainlanders for over two decades.
"Work in Progress" is a series created and hosted by Pam Haasen for CICK News in Smithers, BC. The series interviews women in leadership positions in the north about their path to power and the progress they are making for the province.
The following clip is an excerpt from Pam's conversation with Kuun Jaadas while on Haida Gwaii. Kuun Jaadas is speaking about why she got into politics and, more specifically, how she is trying to reimagine running a campaign in a historically NDP-led riding.