Haida Gwaii Institute

What Haida Gwaii Institute does

The Haida Gwaii Institute (HGI) is a Canadian non-profit post-secondary educational institution based in Daajing Giids, British Columbia, jointly governed by the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship and the Haida Gwaii Higher Education Society (HGHES). Formally established in 2018 — building on programs dating to 2010 — HGI delivers place-based, field-intensive academic programming on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Haida people, accredited through UBC so that students earn 300-level transferable credits. The organization operates with approximately 30 staff and has educated 350+ students across 19 semesters since inception, drawing on a network of 150+ local knowledge holders and community educators.

HGI's product portfolio comprises three core program types: (1) two 13-week in-person semesters — Natural Resource Science (September–December) and Marine Conservation (January–April) — each delivering 15 UBC credits to cohorts of approximately 20 students at the Haida Heritage Centre at Ḵay Llnagaay in Skidegate; (2) a 4–8 week summer session (Plants, People, and Place) offering 12 credits; and (3) an online learning line consisting of individual 300-level asynchronous/synchronous courses (~$575 CDN domestic) and a 2026-launched Co-Management of Natural Resources micro-certificate ($2,400 for ~60 hours over two years). Curriculum integrates Western scientific frameworks with Indigenous knowledge systems through guest speakers, community educators, and frequent field trips. Proprietary features include block-style intensive course sequencing, a place-based learning framework, and cross-cultural curriculum integration authored with Haida and Indigenous contributors.

Revenue mechanics combine multiple streams: HGI program fees ($3,200–$4,080 per in-person semester depending on length), separate UBC tuition paid directly to UBC, online course tuition, and micro-certificate fees. The organization supplements tuition with grants and contributions from a broad partner base including Indigenous Services Canada, Western Economic Diversification Canada, the Vancouver Foundation, BC Hydro, Parks Canada, the Gwaii Trust Society, the Council of the Haida Nation, and Skidegate/Old Massett Band Councils. Go-to-market relies on UBC's student recruitment channels, Indigenous community partnerships (e.g., Indspire), alumni referrals, and the institute's own website and newsletter — there is no paid acquisition or venture funding.

Name

Haida Gwaii Institute

Legal name

Haida Gwaii Institute

Website

https://hginstitute.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Haida Gwaii Institute (HGI) is a Canadian non-profit post-secondary institution jointly governed by UBC and the Haida Gwaii Higher Education Society, offering place-based, field-intensive academic programs accredited through UBC. It serves undergraduate students, Indigenous learners, and natural resource professionals through in-person semesters on Haida Gwaii and online courses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Experiential Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Faculty-Led & Custom Group Study Abroad Programs (EDAIAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Short-Term Certificate & Micro-Credential Programs (International) (EDAIAIAI)

Keywords

• Experiential higher education
• Place-based learning programs
• Indigenous knowledge education
• Natural resource science semesters
• Marine conservation training

Headquarters

HQ city

Daajing Giids

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. UBC Tuition Revenue: Students pay tuition directly to UBC for 300-level credits. Tuition varies based on domestic or international student status and enrollment.
2. HGI Program Fees: Separate program fees covering field trips, guest speaker stipends, transportation, safety equipment, and access to reading materials. Full semesters (14 weeks) approximately $6,000 additional cost; Summer sessions (4-8 weeks) approximately $3,000-$4,000.
3. Professional Development Micro-Certificate: Online micro-certificate in Co-Management of Natural Resources priced at $2,400 for full certificate or $850 per individual course, taken over two-year period.
4. Individual Online Course Tuition: Online courses priced at approximately $575 CDN tuition per course for domestic students, with higher rates for international students.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Haida Gwaii Institute is a non-profit post-secondary educational institution that delivers UBC-accredited, place-based experiential learning programs on Haida Gwaii and online. Its core offerings include two in-person semester programs (Natural Resource Science and Marine Conservation), a summer session (Plants, People, and Place), a portfolio of online 300-level courses, and a Co-Management of Natural Resources professional micro-certificate, all integrating Western scientific frameworks with Indigenous knowledge systems. Programs are delivered at the Haida Heritage Centre and online, with students earning transferable UBC credits.

Product overview

Haida Gwaii Institute (HGI) is an educational institution offering a portfolio of three main program types: (1) In-person Haida Gwaii Semesters in Natural Resource Science and Marine Conservation (13-week intensive programs offering 15 UBC credits each); (2) Haida Gwaii Summer Session in Plants, People, and Place (4-8 week program offering 12 UBC credits); and (3) Online Learning comprising individual 300-level courses and a Co-Management of Natural Resources micro-certificate. All programs are accredited through UBC and deliver transformative, place-based education using Haida Gwaii's social and ecological systems as living classrooms, with courses incorporating local knowledge holders, community educators, and field experiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Haida Gwaii Semester in Natural Resource Science An intensive 13-week in-person program (September-December) for senior undergraduate students, offering five 300-level UBC courses (15 credits) covering ecology, wildlife, Indigenous governance, and land stewardship, delivered at the Haida Heritage Centre in Skidegate.
• Haida Gwaii Semester in Marine Conservation An intensive 13-week in-person program (January-April) for senior undergraduate students, offering five 300-level UBC courses (15 credits) exploring ocean governance, fisheries co-management, marine protected areas, and Indigenous marine stewardship, delivered at the Haida Heritage Centre in Skidegate.
• Haida Gwaii Summer Session in Plants, People, and Place A 4-8 week block-style summer program (May-June) offering four consecutive 300-level UBC courses (12 credits) focused on social-ecological systems, environmental assessment, plant ecology, and Indigenous plant knowledge, delivered at the Haida Heritage Centre.
• Co-Management of Natural Resources Micro-Certificate An online professional micro-certificate of three courses (~60 hours total) for public, private, and non-profit sector professionals to build foundations for co-management initiatives and intercultural understanding, priced at $2,400 for the full certificate or $850 per individual course.
• Online Courses (HGSE/HGI 300-level) Asynchronous and synchronous online undergraduate courses (300-level) covering Indigenous law and governance, reconciliation, ecological economics, marine conservation, and community development, each approximately $575 CDN tuition for domestic students with higher international rates.
• HGI 320A: Histories and Personal Responsibilities: Indigenous Peoples and Colonialism in Canada A 100-level foundational online course examining colonialism in Canada, residential school denialism, anti-Indigenous racism, and reconciliation, serving as a prerequisite for HGSE 371, running September-December 2026.

Quantifiable outcome

• 350+ students educated since 2010 with 19 semesters delivered
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• University of British Columbia Faculty of Forestry & Environmental StewardshipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHGI is jointly governed by UBC Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship and the Haida Gwaii Higher Education Society. All undergraduate programming is accredited through UBC. Established formal partnership in 2018 when HGI was officially created.
• Haida Gwaii Higher Education Society (HGHES)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit organization that developed the Haida Gwaii Semesters and other programs. HGHES board includes forestry professionals, doctors, hereditary chiefs, and local community members committed to transformative education. HGI Advisory Council is made up of HGHES Board members.
• Council of the Haida NationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHGI operates within Haida territory and has signed memorandum of understanding with Council of the Haida Nation to clarify shared goals for capacity building and education. Seeks wise council from Haida leadership including Hereditary Chiefs Council.
• Gwaii Trust SocietymajorOthersProvides Gwaii Trust Continuing Education Grant for Haida Gwaii residents up to $3,750/year for professional development programs.
• Skidegate Band CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates in development and delivery of HGI courses and programs as part of the Haida community partnership.
• Old Massett Village CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates in development and delivery of HGI courses and programs as part of the Haida community partnership.
• Parks CanadamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports HGI programming with connections to Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and contributes to marine conservation education.
• BC Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural DevelopmentminorOthersProvincial government ministry supporting natural resource management education.
• Haida Gwaii MuseumminorOthersLocated within Haida Heritage Centre, provides cultural education and resources for HGI programs.
• Haida Gwaii Community FuturesminorOthersLocal organization supporting community economic development and small business growth.
• Enterprising Non-ProfitsminorOthersOrganization supporting non-profit social enterprise development.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• First Nations University of Canada: Indigenous-led post-secondary institution offering accredited undergraduate and graduate programs integrating Indigenous knowledge systems. Most directly comparable to HGI in mission, governance structure (Indigenous-controlled), and reconciliation-focused curriculum.
• Nicola Valley Institute of Technology: Indigenous-controlled post-secondary institution in British Columbia delivering accredited programs with Indigenous cultural integration. Comparable to HGI as a BC-based Indigenous-led institution combining credential-bearing education with community-based curriculum.
• School for Field Studies: Operates place-based, semester-long environmental field programs at global sites with university credit. Highly comparable to HGI's Natural Resource Science and Marine Conservation semesters in field-based pedagogy, credit model, and small-cohort structure.
• Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre: BC-based place-based marine and ecological field station offering semester-long and summer residential programs for undergraduates. Highly comparable to HGI's Marine Conservation semester on Haida Gwaii in terms of remote-coastal field pedagogy and university-credit model.
• Wild Rockies Field Institute: Offers field-based semester and summer courses in ecology, environmental studies, and place-based learning at remote sites. Comparable to HGI in immersive field pedagogy, small cohort sizes, and university-credit partnerships.

Broad incumbents

• Outward Bound Canada: Established Canadian experiential education provider offering outdoor and place-based courses for youth and adults. Comparable to HGI as a broader experiential education provider, though HGI is more academic-credit-focused.
• Royal Roads University: BC public university emphasizing experiential and place-based learning across undergraduate and graduate programs. Comparable to HGI in BC geography and experiential pedagogy, but operates at significantly larger scale with broader program portfolio.
• Cape Breton University: Canadian university with Unama'ki College of Indigenous programs integrating Mi'kmaq knowledge into accredited degree programs. Comparable to HGI in Indigenous-Western curriculum integration and Canadian context, though at much larger institutional scale.
• Vancouver Island University: BC public university offering place-based and Indigenous-focused programs including coastal and environmental studies. Comparable to HGI in BC geography, Indigenous student support infrastructure, and field-based learning orientation.

Others

• Indspire: National Indigenous-led charity funding Indigenous post-secondary education through bursaries and programming. Comparable as a complementary ecosystem participant — Indspire is a funder/referral channel for Indigenous learners that HGI actively recruits through.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/haida-gwaii-institute

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Haida Gwaii Institute