User talk:Kehodgson/sandbox
Article Evaluation of "Haida People"
Overall Comments
[edit]The grammatical structure and composition of the article is very weak. For example, the description of the CHN happens in the introduction rather than in its own section, and its description is incoherent: "the Council of the Haida Nation (CHN) is the archipelago of Haida Gwaii (formerly the Queen Charlotte Islands) in northern British Columbia, Canada." Many topics that are relevant to the Haida people are covered only in the introduction, and in a very superficial manner. I would afford individual sections to many of these, and I would break the "History" section into a number of relevant sub-topics.
Relevancy
[edit]All sections of the article are relevant to the Haida People.
Representation of viewpoints and topics
[edit]In the article, many topics are not discussed at all or are only given superficial attention. The Smallpox epidemic, for example, is not mentioned at all. Language revitalization efforts, residential school history, maritime fur trade, the Athlii Gwaii protests and the creation of the Gwaii Haanas Agreement, and the history and current composition of the CHN could be covered in greater detail. Many of the topics we have dedicated full classes to have not been reflected fully in this article.
Neutrality
[edit]Opinionated Statement: "Haida society continues to produce a robust and highly stylized art form."
Opinionated Statement: "In that time they have established an intimate connection with the islands' lands and oceans, established highly structured societies, and constructed many villages.[7][8]"
Opinionated Statement: "Missionaries regarded the carved poles as graven images rather than intimate representations of the family histories that wove Haida society together. Chiefly families showed their histories by erecting totems outside their homes, or on house posts forming the building. Their social organization was matrilineal.[16] As the islands were Christianized, many cultural works such as totem posts were destroyed or taken to museums around the world. This significantly undermined Haida self-knowledge and further diminished morale."
Citations
[edit]Many of the citations for this article come from newspapers, rather than more reliable academic sources. Furthermore, several lines in the article are not properly cited. For example:
No Citation: "Haida Gwaii, which means "island of the people" in Haida."
No Citation: "The Haida are known for their craftsmanship, trading skills, and seamanship. They are thought to have been warlike and to practise slavery."
No Citation: "Like other groups on the Northwest Coast, the Haida defended themselves with fortifications, including palisades, trapdoors and platforms."
No Citation: "The Haida developed effective weapons for boat-based battle, including a special system of stone rings weighing 18 to 23 kg (40 to 51 lb) which could destroy an enemy's dugout canoe and be reused after the attacker pulled it back with the attached cedar bark rope. The Haida took captives from defeated enemies."
No Citation: Taan was traditionally and is in Lingít's territory, and the Kaigani Haida migrated there in the late 18th century. Haida have occupied Haida Gwaii since at least the 12,500 BP.