Haida Gwaii Summer Session

Haida Gwaii Summer Session in Plants, People, and Place

May and June, HlG̱aagilda Skidegate

This program includes four block style courses, developed as a continuous two month program. Each course will include a variety of community educators and numerous field activities in the natural and human environments of Haida Gwaii. All course are accredited through UBC for a total of 12 300-level credits, and well suited for upper level undergraduate students.

The 2025 offering is currently full with a waiting list, we are now accepting applications for 2026!

Our Learning Environment

Our programs are based out of the beautiful Haida Heritage Centre at Ḵay Llnagaay, in HlG̱aagilda Skidegate BC. In addition to lectures and coursework, students will explore Haida Gwaii’s natural surroundings, connect with local experts and community educators, and become immersed in our dynamic island community.

Find out what makes the Haida Gwaii Semesters stand out from other university programs.

There are two costs associated with the program: Tuition (based on enrolment as a domestic or international student) and the Program Fee ($3,200).

Program Fee: $3,200

As this is an off-campus program, there are numerous program-related costs that tuition alone cannot cover. Costs related to the program are classroom space, guest speaker honoraria, transportation and field trips, field equipment and safety gear, etc. Please refer to the information package for more details on how and when to make this payment.

University of British Columbia Tuition

Tuition is paid to UBC directly and is based on enrolment as a domestic or international student. The fee includes the tuition costs for 12 300-level UBC credits. For more information, please visit the UBC Student Services website.

Additional Costs: Please note that students are responsible for covering the costs of their travel to and from Haida Gwaii, accommodation and living costs, as well as any recreational activities outside of the program.

How to Apply

Please click the status below that best represents you to see more information:

Ready to Apply Now?

Fill out the HGI Semester application form found here.

Frequently Asked Questions about HGI Semesters and Summer Sessions

The Haida Gwaii Institute (HGI) is a community-based education and research post-secondary institution that develops and delivers transformative education inspired by Haida Gwaii. We offer students immersive, experiential learning opportunities in rural, resource-dependent communities in transition. We embrace a place-based approach; we see the social and ecological systems of Haida Gwaii as vibrant natural classrooms for our students to engage with, grounding high level course content in living, local case studies.

The Haida Gwaii Higher Education Society (HGHES) is a non-profit organization that developed the Haida Gwaii Semesters and other programs, that are offered now by HGI. HGHES is made up of a diverse board of directors ranging from forestry professionals, doctors, hereditary chiefs, and other local communtiy members that are commited to transformative education inspired by Haida Gwaii and the idea of learning together.

The Haida Gwaii Insitute is governed jointly by the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Foresty and the Haida Gwaii Higher Education Society. As HGI is located organizationally in UBC Forestry, all HGI undergraduate programming is accredited through UBC.

No, this is not a Haida led organization, this is a community-based and inter-cultural organization. Our staff and board are made up of both Haida and non-Haida people. We work together, have shared core values and visions, and attempt to integrate different knowledge systems into our programs.

When our organization took form a decade ago, we visited the Elders at HlG̱aagilda X̱aayda Kil Naay Skidegate Haida Immersion Program to find a term in the Haida language that was fitting for the work that we set out to do in education. Their response was Sḵ’aadG̱a Gud ad is which translates to learning together.

Sḵ’aadG̱a Gud ad is embodies our vision for a cross-cultural and community-based approach to higher education. We aim to provide both western and Indigenous lenses – and the diversity of persepctives that exist within those lenses – on issues explored in class, and to learn from leading academics as well as people with direct, lived experience who are experts in their own right. Facilitating this rich collaboration supports a meaningful learning exchange and the opportunity for students to develop a deep and broad perspective.

We have many Haida curriculum developers and reviewers, instructors, and guest speakers that help ensure that Haida values and perspectives are represented and respected in our courses, which has a very a direct impact on what students will learn. We also include readings, media, and other resources that have been authored or developed by Haida and other Indigenous people in all of our courses.

We seek wise council and direction from Haida leadership including friends, colleagues and members of our HGI Advisory Council, but also more formalized entities like the Hereditary Chiefs Council, Skidegate Band Council and Old Massett Village Council Band. We have a signed memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Council of the Haida Nation to help clarify and work toward our shared goals for capacity building and education on Haida Gwaii. We also have an Indigenous and Community Initiatives Manager on our small team, to help plan our programming and development in ways that make sense for our communities.

No, definitely not, but over the whole program you will spend ample time outside. Some courses are more field based (HGSE 356, HGSE 353, HGSE 320C) while others have more indoor, classroom time. This depends on the nature of the course itself and also the time of year.

The program fee (which is separate from tuition) helps to cover some of the costs associated with the uniqueness of our program including stipends for the many guest speakers; field trips; PPE, safety equipment and field gear; transportation to and from class each day; access to required reading materials and other resources; and more. As much as possible this money is spent locally on Haida Gwaii and plays an important role in our small and transitioning economy, particularly in the fall and winter months when tourism is low. This fee enables us to provide a unique and diverse learning experience for students, distinct from traditional, on-campus programs.

Class is typically held from 9am until 3:30pm, with an hour break for lunch. Some days may run longer or shorter, depending on the flow of the week and whether there is a field trip that may require some commuting. These programs are intensive and they are a different pace than your average university term. Time management is key to your success. With the exception of our summer sessions, we schedule every Friday afternoon off for independent study, so that students can use the time to catch up on work or take some time for self-care.

All students, even those considered ‘visiting’ at UBC, have the opportunity to disclose to UBC’s Centre for Accessibility so that we might assist you with appropriate support and services. Disclosure does not impact your admission. If your home university is aware of your learning difference and/or other academic concessions, UBC will not automatically be informed. In order to receive support, you will need to contact the Centre for Accessibility.

Yes, while we are off-campus we still belong to the UBC community and we lean on many of the established policies, especially in regards to student conduct and safety. We also develop policy, procedures, and practices specific to HGI.

HGI helps connect students with available local housing. We do a call-out and have prospective landlords fill out housing forms, which we share with students so that they can reach out and speak with community members directly regarding their rental spaces. Options tend to range from rooms in family homes, shared houses with other students, private apartments or cabins, etc. Rent can vary significantly depending on the unit, though $400-$750+ is a fair monthly estimate for rent.

Most housing options are furnished with the essentials, include internet, and are within walking distance to the town centre of whichever community your program is situated in. We advise that tenants and landlords review and sign a working rental agreement to help clarify expectations. Our staff will help you find a comfortable scenario that meets your needs.

Many of our goods are barged here and we pay higher prices to account for the freight. As a result, sometimes our gas and groceries are more expensive than in bigger cities (though not as staggering as the high cost of living in the Arctic or other, more northern areas). Depending on how and what you eat, your grocery bill can vary. Past students have found it helpful to bring a few things from home to get their kitchen pantries started (spices, condiments, dry goods, etc.) though you will be able to find everything that you need locally.

Yes! If you are interested in getting a first-hand perspective of what it’s like to participate in a program or live in a particular rental unit, let us know. We can put you in touch with an alumni in your area.

Yes! If you have the means to bring your personal vehicle, there is no doubt that you will put it to good use exploring the Islands on your evenings and weekends. We do not have any public transportation on Haida Gwaii and it can be difficult to get around, especially between the north and south ends of the Islands. HGI provides program related transportation, but previous students have greatly enjoyed the use of their own vehicles during down time.

We actively recruit Indigenous students specifically, as part of our recruitment strategy. We also make an effort to create spaces that are safe, supportive and inclusive of Indigenous perspectives. Many of our instructors and local guest speakers are Indigenous. Local Haida scholars, knowledge keepers and community members work with us in the development of program curriculum. Generally, we have had one or two Indigenous students per semester in a class of 20 or so students. This percentage is comparable to most on-campus university classes. If you are an Indigenous student and would like to learn more about the experience of our past Indigenous students, please reach out to us and we can help put you in touch. Our Indigenous and Community Initiatives Manager is another great person to connect with for more insight.

As part of your application process, you are required to meet with your academic advisor and obtain a letter of permission. The letter of permission helps sort out how the credits you’ll earn in our courses will be transferred back to your home university and respective program. Once you complete our program you will be issued an official transcript from UBC and can request that a copy be sent to your home university to initiate the credit transfers, as agreed upon in your letter of permission.

Sometimes academic advisors have questions about our courses as they work on your letter of permission, please feel free to connect them to our office and we can help provide more information, including syllabi.

Do not panic, if you have missed a deadline (as many of our students do) we have ways to work around these. Please reach out to our team and we can advise you on how to proceed.

Beyond our expectations of your commitment to the learning experience, our main expectation is that students exercise respect. This should be demonstrated as respect for themselves, for one another, for the land and waters, and especially, for the Island communities that are hosting, in particular the Haida Nation upon whose territory we are situated.

As part of our admissions process we have students sign a participation agreement that outlines some very clear conduct expectations and should a student breach this agreement during the program, they may be asked to leave.

While our team will help provide a baseline of information, we highly recommend that you spend time researching the community so that you can prepare for your time here and frame realistic expectations. Though we often refer to ourselves as one collective Haida Gwaii community, there are several indivdual communities that are quite distinct. Please do your research and be in touch if you have questions.

We asked alumni of our programs what they would relay to incoming students, and this is what they shared with us!

“I wish I had spent more time talking face to face with people on-island about different projects. There are so many talented people on Haida Gwaii and there is potential for people to collaborate and create opportunities for themselves. I also wish I had known I did not need to bring a suitcase full of piano books. It definitely is not necessary to pack a lot of things, just essential things like gumboots.” Kim, Alumni 2013

“You really need to be dedicated and willing to 100% commit yourself to this experience. You have to be willing to change the way you think about things, take a seat in the listening chair, and learn to truly value others’ stories and ideas. Top quality for a potential student is respect, patience, creativity, and thoughtfulness. Also a sense of humour.” Rhiannon Moore, Alumni 2012

“It’s important to trust in the experience and know that all things come in good time.” Emily Collins, Alumni 2010

“The remoteness of Haida Gwaii was still surprising to me even though I knew where I was going. My biggest regret from my semester is not coming out of my shell sooner. Haida Gwaii is a small community but one thriving with activity. It is important to push yourself out of your comfort zone and to mingle with locals. That is how you find out about all the amazing stuff going on in the community. Engaging with everyone within and outside the program is the best way to maximize this incredible experience.” Emily Salt, Alumni 2014

Courses

HGSE 330 – Social-Ecological Change: An Introduction to Systems Thinking and Resilience

As human beings in an interconnected world, we face a number of complex and seemingly intractable problems including such things as climate change, food security, global poverty and pandemic diseases. Fostering social and ecological resilience will help us better understand how to face and address these problems. Resilience is the ability of a linked social and ecological system to respond to stress and build the adaptive capacity of individuals and groups to respond to stress. This course provides an opportunity to learn and apply the conceptual tools of systems thinking and complexity theories for fostering social change and building adaptive capacity through application to cases on Haida Gwaii. Students are provided with an introduction to the conceptual tools of systems thinking, complexity and resilience that help understand the dynamics of social-ecological change and social innovation. The course will also involve additional local, community educators from Haida Gwaii and will incorporate local knowledge and local case examples to ground systems-based and complexity concepts.

HGSE 331 – Environmental Assessment in Cross-Cultural and Indigenous Contexts

This course is an introduction to the field and practice of environmental assessment (EA) in Canada with specific reference to EA processes in cross-cultural and Indigenous contexts. This course will make specific references to cases on Haida Gwaii and will involve additional local, community educators from Haida Gwaii. We will explore processes and techniques for incorporating environmental considerations in planning and evaluating proposals for future undertakings that may have significant social and ecological effects. The course provides an overview of the methodologies for the design and conduct of environmental impact studies that adhere to the Crown’s legal and constitutional obligations to Indigenous Peoples. The main objective of this course is to introduce students to environmental assessment, with a focus on the origins, purposes, processes and gradual evolution of EA toward a sustainability-oriented framework, with particular reference to the Canadian federal environmental assessment regime. In particular, the course will make specific reference to the incorporation of Indigenous Knowledge into EA practice and the implications of such decision-making processes in light of the Crown’s Duty to Consult and Accommodate, self-governance, self-determination and reconciliation.

HGSE 332 – Plant Ecology and Diversity

Plant ecology is the study of the distribution and abundance of plants, the effects of environmental factors upon the abundance of plants, and the interactions among and between plants and other organisms. In this course we address these topics within the ecosystems of the coastal temperate rainforest in general, and of Haida Gwaii in particular. We will discuss the history of botanical exploration, and of ecosystem classification and mapping, on Haida Gwaii. We will learn to identify key plants and ecosystems and their ecological importance. We will meet Haida botanists and land managers, to hear some of their stories about economic, social and cultural uses of plants. We’ll also spend time with wildlife biologists and recreation and tourism experts to learn about the importance of forested and non-forested ecosystems and the relationships between plants, wildlife and humans.

HGSE 333 – Indigenous Plant Knowledge: Ethnoecology and Ethnobotany

Ethnoecology is the study of cultural ecological knowledge and of the interactions between human societies and their environments, including other species. Ethnobotany is the study of the direct interrelationships between people and the plants, past, present and future. In this course we address these topics primarily within the context of Haida culture and language and the ecosystems of Haida Gwaii along with examples from other Indigenous communities in British Columbia and the Yukon. We will discuss the historical roots of ethnoecology and ethnobotany, the directions and trends in these fields over the past century, and their relevance in today’s world. It is important when discussing these topics to address the intersections between Canadian colonial history land-based practices and the ongoing impacts on Indigenous Peoples. We will learn to identify key plants and ecosystems and their cultural importance, will focus on traditional land and resource management systems, and discuss issues of ethics and intellectual properties rights in relation to Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge.

“This experience definitely changed my life. It was my first time witnessing a cut block first-hand, and
seeing how difficult sustainable forestry is – both economically and environmentally – was very eye-opening. This idea of sustainability transferred across all of our courses (as well as across scientific, political and economic boundaries), and was the first time I really felt I understood all that this word entails. I’d absolutely recommend this experience to any and all students!”

Kristy Mlakar, Alumna

“My experience with the Haida Gwaii Semesters is one that I cherish and reflect upon frequently. What I learned from my time there has affected many aspects of my life now: education and career goals, my drive to make change, and relationships – to name a few. I view my experience as being somewhat two-fold. On one hand, we had the opportunity to learn from amazing and inspiring teachers (both course professors and guest speakers), greatly build upon our transferrable skills in research, writing, collaboration and presenting, and conduct a variety of field work, while simultaneously exploring one the most beautiful places on earth. On the other hand, this program opens the door (and pushes you through it) for personal growth. Without the program I may never have known what it feels like to find a family within my peers, to be truly welcomed into a community with such a complicated past & vibrant culture, to realize my place in this world while peering at the full moon through the crowns of western red cedars, or to be drenched head-to-toe while surrounded by decaying salmon carcasses (bring good rain pants). I wouldn’t be the same person I am today without the time I spent on the edge of this world.”

Emma Caron, Alumna

“Doing the [Natural Resource Science] semester is one of the best things I have ever done. For me, [Haida Gwaii] was the perfect place to live and learn. Combining life and learning was quite seamless and happened organically […] I still aim to return to the islands as soon as I can.”

Tracey Proverbs, Alumna
“Natural Resource Science with Haida Gwaii Semesters was an excellent experience for me […] Each student is treated as a valuable member of the school and there is an overwhelming sense of inclusiveness when on Haida Gwaii. The connections HGHES has to resources on Haida Gwaii are unparalleled and provide a unique field school setting. The school branches out to so many different people on Haida Gwaii to come speak to the class. As a class we were also brought to numerous locations around Haida Gwaii that provided excellent settings to learn about natural resource science such as estuaries, alpine meadows, forests, beaches, and bogs […] We were able to carry out activities such as analyzing acoustic recordings, setting up pit traps, using telemetry, and assessing habitat. It is neat to be able to do all of these things with the variety of people HGHES collaborates with.”
Kim Sandve, Alumna

Looking for more information?

For more information about this program, please contact hg.institute@ubc.ca