THE STORY OF THE GOLDEN SPRUCE
A LEGEND WITH DEEP ROOTS
The Golden Spruce in 1984
Photo: Mike Beauregard via Wikimedia Commons
For over 300 years, a remarkable Kayd Sitka Spruce prospered along the banks of the meandering Yakoun River. The tree was unlike any other in the surrounding rainforest, as a rare genetic mutation bore it striking golden needles instead of the typical evergreen. When conditions allowed slivers of sunlight to permeate the dense foliage, the Golden Spruce was utterly spectacular; appearing to almost glow and glitter from within.
Known by the Haida people as Kiid K’iiyas Ancient Tree, the story of its creation [read below] had been a sacred part of the culture’s oral history for generations.
Sadly, tragedy struck in January 1997 when the Golden Spruce met its fate at the hands of a deeply troubled forestry engineer named Grant Hadwin. In an overnight act of misguided protest, his chainsaw sliced into the base of the 50-meter giant, rendering it unstable in the gusty winter wind. It fell a few days later.
For the Haida people and the village of Gamadiis Port Clements (which was known as “The Home of the Golden Spruce” at the time), the sense of grief and loss was profound. While the community gathered in mourning, the heartbreaking story garnered headlines internationally, spurring a massive manhunt for the tree’s killer.
Hadwin was promptly arrested and charged for the malicious act but disappeared after being released on bail. He was last seen paddling his kayak north towards Alaska. Despite the discovery of his wrecked kayak the following summer, no trace of the avid outdoorsman was ever found. Theories and rumours continue to swirl around Hadwin’s disappearance, but his whereabouts (or likely fate) remains a mystery.
Salvaging what remained of Kiid K’iiyas proved difficult, but collaborative efforts to take grafts from the original tree was ultimately successful. One of the two surviving saplings returned to Gamadiis Port Clements in 2001, and the other resides at UBC’s Botanical Garden in Vancouver. The only timber collected from the felled giant was used for the creation of another Canadian icon – the Voyageur Guitar.
Golden Spruce Sapling
Photo: Christian Muise via Wikimedia Commons
Kiid K’iiyas Golden Spruce Creation Story
A young man’s disrespect caused a terrible winter storm. The two survivors – a young boy and his chinaay (grandfather) left in search of a new home. His chinaay said to him “Don’t look back! If you look back, you will go into the next world. People will be able to stop and admire you, but they won’t be able to talk to you. When you get too old and fall down, you’ll grow up again. You’ll be standing there till the end of the world. Don’t look back. Having walked a long way, the boy looked back. Then his feet grew into the ground. His chinaay tried to help to no avail, and the boy urged his chinaay to go on without him. As he left, he said to the boy “It’s alright my son. Even the last generation will look at you and remember your story”. The boy became Kiid K’iiyas - the Golden Spruce.
*Source: HaidaNation.ca, April 2016
Today, the Golden Spruce Trail faithfully serves as a tribute to the enduring legend. Passing by still-standing giants and mossy enclaves, the path leads to a viewpoint over the Yakoun where visitors can view what remains of the once-magnificent tree overhanging the riverbank.
Experiencing this historic site is a must when visiting Haida Gwaii. We are delighted to include guided Golden Spruce tours in many of our all-inclusive vacation packages.
Start planning your expedition to the Edge of the World at HaidaTourism.ca/Experiences.
Want to learn more?
For further reading, we suggest the following:
The Golden Spruce: A True Story of Myth, Madness and Greed (2005); An award-winning novel by John Vaillant
The Golden Bough (2002); Online story in the New Yorker by the same author.