National Park After Dark

Episode 295: The Killing of K’iid K'yaas – Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site
Release Date: April 28, 2025
Hosts: Cassie & Danielle

Overview

This episode explores the mysterious and devastating 1997 killing of the Golden Spruce—K’iid K’yaas—on Haida Gwaii, British Columbia. Cassie and Danielle dive into the cultural significance of this one-in-a-billion golden Sitka spruce to the Haida people, its ecological importance, and the controversial protest by logger-turned-environmentalist Grant Hadwin, who felled the beloved tree. The story weaves together themes of indigenous heritage, environmental activism, logging industry excess, and unresolved disappearance and mystery.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Story of K’iid K’yaas, the Golden Spruce

• Location & Uniqueness:
  • The Golden Spruce stood over 160 ft tall on the banks of the Yakoon river (Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte Islands).
  • It garnered attention for its golden needles, a rare mutation (chlorotic), making it a statistical “one in a billion” tree.
  • The tree “stood out like a beacon of light” among endless greens (Cassie, 03:31).
• Ecological Marvel:
  • The temperate rainforest environment provided the precise conditions for the mutant tree to survive—"just right," as Cassie notes: “Direct sunlight could kill it, but not enough and it would have never grown at all” (Cassie, 04:10).
  • The forest itself is described as “the Galapagos of Canada” for its diversity and endemic species (Cassie, 06:42).
• Haida Mythology:
  • The tree was central to Haida culture and mythology—symbolizing transformation, loss, and care.
  • Legendary origin: A boy who looked back at his destroyed village was transformed into the golden spruce, cared for by his people for generations (Cassie, 09:51).
  • It survived colonialism, epidemics, and logging—one of the few pieces of tradition to endure.

2. Logging, Colonialism & Environmental Change

• Colonial Impact:
  • The Haida population plummeted from around 20,000 to 600 after European diseases and resource extraction (Cassie, 08:30).
  • The Haida lost much oral tradition and culture, but the story of the Golden Spruce survived.
• Logging Industry Attitude:
  • The belief in limitless timber persisted through the 20th century, with severe consequences: 40% of BC’s forests lost by the time Grant Hadwin entered logging (Cassie, 13:00).
  • Performer Al Wanderer’s quote captures the guilt:

    “Good God, we gutted that place. I didn't think it was possible to log this much. ...sometimes you wonder if it was all worth it.” (Cassie quoting Al Wanderer, 19:13)

• Slow Realizations:
  • Early loggers like Grant began noticing clearcut areas didn’t recover as promised.

3. Who Was Grant Hadwin?

• Background:
  • Grew up in Vancouver, began in logging at 17.
  • “Daredevil, adrenaline junkie... invincible” (Danielle, 15:34).
  • Known for extreme exploits, resilience, and deep connection to wilderness.
• Growing Environmentalism:
  • Became increasingly troubled by his role in destruction, struggling with “head and heart” conflict (Cassie, 20:46).
  • Attempted to modify his work—advocated for sparing ecologically sensitive areas, writing critical reports.
• Mental Health & Isolation:
  • Exhibited paranoia, isolation, and family history of mental illness (Cassie, 33:04).
  • Episodes of erratic behavior: swimming in frozen rivers, distributing hypodermic needles as protest (Cassie, 43:32).
• Central Quote (Leopold, via Cassie):

  “One of the penalties of an ecological education is that one lives alone in a world of wounds...” (25:56)

4. Felling of the Golden Spruce: Protest or Crime?

• Hadwin’s Motivation:
  • Position: Acts not from hatred but from “profound love,” a radical protest against hypocrisy in protecting only a single tree (Cassie, 10:36).
  • Bought tools openly in logging country—chainsaw, gasoline (Cassie, 47:34).
• Execution:
  • On Jan 20, 1997, Hadwin swam 60 ft. across the freezing river at night. Used a precise “Humboldt undercut” and other techniques to fatally destabilize, but not immediately fell, the tree (Cassie, 47:54).
  • Wrote and faxed a letter explaining himself to Greenpeace, local newspapers, and the Haida Nation:

    “I didn't enjoy butchering this magnificent old plant, but you apparently need a message and a wake up call...” (Cassie quoting Hadwin, 52:37)

• Aftermath:
  • The tree fell the following day, sparking profound grief and anger in Haida communities.
  • Official Haida Nation statement declared:

    “The loss of K’iid K’yaas is a deliberate violation of our cultural history...” (Cassie, 53:34)

  • Hadwin was quickly arrested; “He wasn’t running... had pointed a bright neon sign at himself” (Cassie, 54:33).

5. Mystery: The Disappearance of Grant Hadwin

• Flight & Missing Person:
  • Fearing violent retaliation, Hadwin planned to kayak the notoriously dangerous Hecate Strait to attend his own trial—rather than travel publicly among an angry crowd (Cassie, 56:38).
  • “Fourth most dangerous body of water in the world” (Danielle quoting Cassie, 57:10).
  • Set out on Feb 13, 1997, never to be seen again.
  • Several months later, part of his kayak and gear were found; oddly, items seemed remarkably well-preserved, suggesting a recent wreck or staged disappearance (Cassie, 62:18).
• Theories:
  • Did Hadwin die, stage his death, or disappear voluntarily?
  • Unresolved, but as Cassie summarizes:

    “Grant Hadwin was as confounding in his absence as he was when he stood in front of everyone.” (62:18)

• Speculation & Legacy:
  • Some connect Hadwin to subsequent sabotage cases, notably the Luna redwood incident in California, but no proof (Cassie, 65:56).

6. Ripple Effects, Ethics & Legacy

• Was the Protest Effective?
  • No clear result; “destruction cannot be reversed, and if we want our forest to stretch on forever, we must care for them today.” (Cassie, 68:48)
  • Danielle: “He wasn’t harming the industry. He was going towards... the only people who cared about this tree were the ones most affected.” (Danielle, 69:23)
• White Saviors, Indigenous Harm:
  • Cassie notes the pattern of “a white man comes and destroys what is sacred with the idea that he knows what is best.” (68:52)
• Incomplete Restoration:
  • Clippings from K’iid K’yaas replanted, but seedlings grew green needles—not golden (Cassie, 67:12).
  • “You can't recreate a miracle in that way.” (67:07)
• Logging Practices Today:
  • Responsible forestry and sustainable logging are now more common and proven possible, though they are “not the simplest, not the cheapest, not quick and dirty” (Cassie, 78:47).
• Final Reflections:
  • The episode ends with the hosts pondering Hadwin’s fate, his intentions, and the indelible loss of the Golden Spruce’s unique magic.
  • “The world lost the magic of something special because of what he did. And the world will never get that back.” (Danielle, 76:41)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Tree’s Impact:

  “The tree was such a bizarre sight that people came up with different theories and stories as to why it was golden... Some thought it had been struck by lightning, others thought it was sick and dying. In reality, though, the cause... was a mutation.” (Cassie, 03:31)

• On Environmental Grief:

  “I heard the trees cry today.” (Cassie quoting Hadwin’s friend, 31:02)

• On the Paradox of Hadwin’s Act:

  “For one last time, his deep knowledge of the forest helped him destroy it.” (Cassie, 47:58)

• On Irreversible Loss:

  “Even the oldest and most powerful forms of life here on earth are not invincible. Destruction cannot be reversed.” (Cassie, 68:48)

• On Human-Nature Relationships:

  “The Haida principle of Yagudang translates to respect for all living things... The Haida people function largely in a kincentric way.” (Cassie, 35:04, 40:52)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Golden Spruce Description & Haida Myth: 03:31–10:36
• Logging Industry Context: 11:16–19:13
• Grant Hadwin’s Backstory & Philosophy: 14:51–33:53
• Environmental Ethics & Indigenous Views: 35:04–42:00
• Increasingly Erratic Behavior: 43:32–47:34
• Felling of the Golden Spruce: 47:54–53:10
• Community Reaction & Arrest: 53:34–54:41
• Kayak Disappearance: 56:38–59:26
• Evidence & Ongoing Mystery: 62:18–66:22
• Aftermath, Restoration Attempts: 67:11–69:23
• Modern Logging Practices: 77:00–78:50

Flow & Tone

The episode blends reverent, mournful storytelling with analytical commentary. Cassie details both the emotional impact of the event and the complex motivations behind Grant Hadwin’s infamous act. Danielle acts as a sounding board—outspoken and skeptical, offering relatable reactions and prompting deeper discussion. The tone is somber, curious, and reflective, never shying from ethical ambiguity or difficult questions.

In Summary

This episode of National Park After Dark transports listeners to the misty rainforests of Haida Gwaii and the felled stump of a legendary tree. Through the tragic tale of the Golden Spruce, Cassie and Danielle explore indigenous loss, ecological wonder, protest gone awry, and the limits of radical acts to inspire true change. The stump by the Yakoon River stands as a lesson: irreplaceable things are often lost when the lessons of the land are not heeded, and healing requires both respect and responsibility.

Further Resources:

• The Golden Spruce: A True Story of Myth, Madness and Greed by John Vaillant
• Hadwin’s Judgment (documentary)

“Even the oldest and most powerful forms of life here on earth are not invincible. Destruction cannot be reversed.” (Cassie, 68:48)