Masset, British Columbia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search
Village of Masset
Location of Masset in British Columbia
Coordinates: 54°01′22″N 132°05′56″W / 54.02278, -132.09889
Country Image:Flag of Canada.svg Canada
Province Image:Flag of British Columbia.svg British Columbia
Region Queen Charlotte Islands
Regional district Skeena-Queen Charlotte
Incorporated 1961
Government
 - Governing body Masset Village Council
 - Mayor Barry Pages
Area
 - Total 19.45 km² (7.5 sq mi)
Elevation 10 m (33 ft)
Population (2006)
 - Total 940
Time zone PST (UTC-8)
Highways 16
Waterways Dixon Entrance

Masset ([ˈmæsɪt]) is a village in the Queen Charlotte Islands (Haida Gwaii) in British Columbia, Canada. It is located on the northern coast of Graham Island, the largest island in the archipelago, and is approximately 50 kilometres (30 miles) west of mainland British Columbia. It is the western terminus of the Yellowhead Highway.

[edit] Name

The name Masset was a gift from the Captain of a Spanish vessel that was repaired with the assistance of the Haida citizens of Atewaas, Kayung and Jaaguhl. These three villages accepted the gift and adopted the name Masset to commemorate what might be the first ever contact between Europeans and the Haida nation.

During the early years of Canadian colonization the name Masset and the post office were stolen by the former Reverend Charles Harrison as part of his scheme to sell land. Incidentally this was Haida land that was paper claimed, but contravened both British and Canadian Constitutional law by being parceled out to a select group of British subjects.

The name Masset is currently in use by the Village of Masset, a municipality under Canada legislation and the Village of Old Masset, the original recipient of the name and a village under the Constitution of the Haida Nation.

Coordinates: 54°0′36″N, 132°8′17″W

[edit] References

Views
Personal tools

Toolbox