Go Haida Gwaii | Project Image, Project by Eleven65 Digital

Go Haida Gwaii (MIEDS)

LOCATION: British Columbia, Canada

SERVICES: Web Design | SEO | Support

INDUSTRY: Tourism & Cultural Heritage

PLATFORM: Squarespace with Custom Code

TIMELINE: 14 Weeks

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Haida Gwaii is an archipelago off the northern coast of British Columbia, Canada. Known for its rich Indigenous heritage and stunning natural landscapes, Haida Gwaii is home to the Misty Isles Economic Development Society (MIES), an organization dedicated to fostering economic growth and sustainable tourism. The Go Haida Gwaii project aims to unify and enhance the island's online presence, showcasing its cultural richness and natural beauty to the world.

When MIEDS approached Eleven65, Haida Gwaii had three separate websites, each serving a different purpose. The organization needed a single, centralized platform that reflected Haida Nation branding, supported Indigenous languages, and could be maintained easily by their in-house team. Our goal was to build a unified digital hub that honored cultural heritage, simplified management, and improved accessibility for both residents and visitors.
Multiple disconnected websites

Three independent websites created confusion for users and diluted the Haida Gwaii brand presence.

Lost domain access

One of the original domains was unrecoverable, requiring a complete rebuild from scratch.

Cultural and brand sensitivity

Strict permissions were needed for all text, imagery, and design elements to ensure cultural respect and alignment with Haida Nation standards.

Limited internal management

The client’s team relied heavily on outside help for updates and needed a platform they could manage confidently on their own.

Poor mobile experience

The previous sites lacked mobile optimization, making it difficult for users to navigate or find reliable information while traveling.
One Unified platform

We built a new website on Squarespace to keep management simple and intuitive for non-technical users.

Multilingual functionality

Integrated both Indigenous languages of the island, allowing the site to authentically represent Haida Gwaii’s linguistic heritage.

Custom-coded directory

Developed a 200+ listing directory to support local businesses, tourism operators, and community organizations.

Culturally approved design

Selected imagery and content in collaboration with MIEDS, ensuring every detail met brand and cultural approval standards.

Donation and engagement features

Added a donation section and newsletter signup tools to encourage ongoing community participation and support.
Since launch, Go Haida Gwaii has consistently attracted 4,000–6,000 monthly visitors, driving a 10% increase in newsletter sign-ups. The new website has also been embraced by the local community and is now recognized as the official tourism hub for Haida Gwaii.

The project not only met but exceeded client expectations, earning and establishing a long-term partnership built on trust, collaboration, and shared goals for sustainable growth.
We acknowledge that Haida Gwaii is the unceded territory of the Haida Nation and that the Haida people are the rightful stewards of this land. We recognize the cultural and environmental significance of everything this land, and website represents. It was important to us to approach this project with humility, care, and deep respect, not just for the land, but for the voices and values behind it. We’re grateful for the opportunity to support a vision rooted in sovereignty, sustainability, and identity. In gratitude and respect, Haw’aa | Haawa.